The Illinois State University Speech Team travelled to Wisconsin this past weekend and returned home with two 1st place trophies. The Speechbirds won both the Mid-American Forensics League’s final two tournaments of the year by beating teams such as Bradley University, the University of Illinois, and the University of Wisconsin.
On an individual level team members also found great success. Senior Laura Balinski (Antioch) placed first in Dramatic Interpretation and third in Programmed Oral Interpretation. Senior Brian Rohman (Metamora) placed first in Persuasive Speaking and second in Impromptu Speaking. Senior Mike Tristano (Downers Grove) placed first in Prose Interpretation as well as second in Duo Interpretation with junior Robi Mahan (Harrisburg) who also placed sixth in Dramatic Interpretation. Junior Molly Mehochko (Mazon) placed sixth in After Dinner Speaking. Junior Jeremy Murphy (Morris) placed second in Persuasive. Fellow junior Raegan Larberg (Lemont) placed third in Informative Speaking as well as seventh in Poetry Interpretation. Junior Joseph Hlavaty (Glen Ellyn) placed first in Duo with sophomore Kambria Vance (Normal) who also placed third in Prose, fourth in Informative, and first in Poetry. Sophomore Ayanna Guzman (Oak Lawn) placed second in Informative, fourth in Impromptu, and fourth in After Dinner. Sophomore Maggie Butzen (Downers Grove) took second in After Dinner, second in Rhetorical Criticism, and third in Impromptu. Sophomore Cole Moriarty (Algonquin) placed first in Extemporaneous Speaking, third in Impromptu, and fifth in Persuasive.