Sierra Walker, a junior from Gering, Neb., qualified two events for the American Forensics Association-National Individual Events Tournament (AFA-NIET) and led the Hastings College Bronco Forensics team to a third place finish at the Loper Swing. Held on November 2-3, 2013, at Hutchinson (Kans.) Community College, the Loper Swing was the first tournament at which freshmen Laurel Teal from Castle Rock, Colo., Russell Heitman from Hebron, Neb., and Kathryn Edwards from Louisville, Neb., broke into final rounds. Individual results for the Loper Swing are below.
While many Broncos competed in Kansas, several participated in the 66th Annual L.E. Norton Tournament at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. Miranda Klugesherz, a junior from Colorado Springs, Colo., was the only Bronco to progress to the semi-final round. She did so in Persuasion Speaking.
Loper Swing hosted by HCC, November 2:
Ethan Richardson, a senior from Omaha, Neb.
3rd place, Extemporaneous Speaking
Sierra Walker, a junior from Gering, Neb.
1st place, After Dinner Speaking
2nd place, Extemperaneous Speaking
3rd place, Impromptu Speaking*
Jess Ayers, a junior from New Castle, Wyo.
Semi-finals, Impromptu Speaking
5th place, Program Oral Interpretation
Corbin Henk, a sophomore from Doniphan, Neb.
2nd place, Persuasion Speaking
2nd place, Communication Analysis
Russell Heitmann, a freshman from Hebron, Neb.
3rd place, Persuasion Speaking
Kathryn Edwards, a freshman from Louisville, Neb.
Semi-finals, Impromptu Speaking
Laurel Teal, a freshman from Castle Rock, Colo.
Semi-Finals, Impromptu Speaking
Loper Swing hosted by the University of Nebraska-Kearney, November 3:
Richardson
3rd place, Extemporaneous Speaking
Walker
1st place, After Dinner Speaking
1st place, Extemporaneous Speaking*
Ayers
Semi-Finals, Impromptu Speaking
Henk
2nd place, Persuasion Speaking
2nd place, Communication Analysis
Russell Heitman., a freshman from Hebron, Neb.
5th place, Poetry Interpretation
6th place, Persuasion Speaking
Kathryn Edwards, a freshman from Louisville, Neb.
6th place, Program Oral Interpretation
Walker and Ayers progressed to quarterfinals in Parliamentary Debate.
*This event has qualified for the national tournament.
The Hastings College forensics team has continued a long-running tradition of national competitive success, placing in the top 20 at the American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament (AFA-NIET) for most of the past ten years, including 16th at AFA 2012 in San Marcos, Texas, and 18th at AFA 2011 in Kearney, Neb.
Founded in 1882, Hastings College is a private, four-year liberal arts institution located in Hastings, Nebraska, that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement. With 64 majors in 32 areas of study and 12 pre-professional programs, Hastings College has been named among “America’s Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report, a “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review and a “Best Buy in College Education” by Barron’s. Visit Hastings.edu for more.
