Cold weather was no deterrent for hot performances by the Hastings College Bronco Forensics team. At the 15th Annual Hell Froze Over (HFO) Forensics Tournament held on January 11-12, 2014, in Austin, Texas, the team advanced two competitors – Miranda Klugesherz, a junior from Colorado Springs, Colo., and Jared Buskirk, a senior from Holdrege, Neb. — to finals in three events. 
Klugesherz finished first in Persuasive Speaking and fourth in Informative Speaking. Buskirk placed third in Impromptu Speaking.
That was no easy feat at a tournament featuring more than 40 schools and 200 competitors and considered more competitive than the American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament (AFA-NIET). Forensics powerhouses University of Texas at Austin and Bradley University hosted the tournament.
On January 18-19, 2014, the Bronco forensics team will travel to Seward, Neb., for the 2014 Sleet and Snow Invitational.
HFO, Saturday, Janauary 11:
Buskirk
Semifinalist, Impromptu Speaking
Amanda Cargile, a senior from Devine, Texas
Semifinalist, Dramatic Interpretation
Tommy Hendrix, a sophomore from Omaha, Neb.
Semifinalist, Prose Interpretation
HFO, Sunday, December 12:
Buskirk
3rd place, Impromptu Speaking
Klugesherz
1st place, Persuasive Speaking
4th place, Informative Speaking
Semifinalist, Program Oral Interpretation
Hendrix
Semifinalist, Dramatic Interpretation
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.
