The Gustavus Adolphus College Forensics Team traveled to Peoria, Illinois to compete in the 62nd annual L.E. Norton Memorial Tournament held on the campus of Bradley University. This year, 40 teams participated – many of which are top 20 American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament schools. In the end, Gustavus placed 7th in Team Sweepstakes – the first time the team has ever placed in the top ten at this prestigious tournament – and broke nine events to outrounds. The Gusties finished ahead of nationally ranked schools such Kansas State University, Arizona State University, Doane College, James Madison University, and Seton Hall.  Sophomore Chloe Radcliffe took 5th place in Individual Sweepstakes – becoming the first Gustie to place in the pentathlon at the tournament.

Team Sweepstakes

First Place: Western Kentucky University

Second Place: George Mason University

Third Place: Illinois State Univeristy

Fourth Place: Ohio University

Fifth Place: Northwestern University

Sixth Place: University of Nebraska Lincoln

Seventh Place: Gustavus Adolphus College

Individual Sweepstakes
Fifth Place: Chloe Radcliffe

Open CA
First Place: Chloe Radcliffe
Semifinalist: Mary Cunningham

Open Drama
Semifinalist: Sam Hemmerich

Open Extemp
Semifinalist: Mary Cunningham

Novice Impromptu
Fifth: Christopher Moua

Open Impromptu
Fourth Place: Mary Cunningham

Novice Persuasion
First Place: Christopher Moua
Second Place: Kate Bissen

Open Prose
Semifinalist: Chloe Radcliffe

Bill Robertz Invitational, GAC – October 18, 2009

On October 17 and 18, Minnesota State University – Mankato and Gustavus Adolphus College hosted two tournaments to honor two of Forensics’ most influential figures. First, on Saturday, Minnesota State University – Mankato hosted the Larry Schnoor Invitational in honor of Dr. Larry Schnoor, the current Tournament Director of the AFA-NIET. On Sunday, Gustavus hosted the third annual Bill Robert Invitational in recognition of Dr. Bill Robertz, who taught in the Gustavus Department of Speech Communication from 1957-1995 as well as helped foster the Forensics Program here at Gustavus.

The Gustavus Forensics Team had a successful weekend, earning first place in Team Sweepstakes on Saturday. While the upperclassmen took up hosting duties on Sunday, the first-year members of the team still competed and shined on their own with several finalists.

Larry Schnoor Invitational, Oct. 17

Team Sweepstakes

First Place: Gustavus Adolphus College

Second Place: Illinois State University

Third Place: University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire

Individual Sweepstakes
First Place: Chloe Radcliffe
Communication Analysis
First Place: Chloe Radcliffe
Fourth Place: Phil Helt
Sixth Place: Mary Cunningham
Drama
Second Place: Chloe Radcliffe
Sixth Place: Emma Moreau
DUO:
Second Place: CJ Hunt/ Sam Hemmerich
Extemporaneous Speaking 
First Place: Mary Cunningham
Third Place: Claire Sagstuen
Sixth Place: Allegra Birdseye
Impromptu Speaking
Fourth Place: Claire Sagstuen
Informative Speaking
Fourth Place: Luke Youngvorst
Fifth Place: Sam Hemmerich
Persuasion
Third Place: Mary Cunningham
Fifth Place: Chris Moua
Poetry
Sixth Place: CJ Hunt
Program Oral Interpretation 
Third Place: CJ Hunt
Prose
First Place: Chloe Radcliffe
Sixth Place: Phil Helt

Bill Robertz Invitational, Oct. 19

Impromptu Speaking
Sixth Place: Eric Halvorson
Eighth Place: Kate Bissen
Program Oral Interpretation
Fifth Place: Vanessa Condon

Day 2: K-State Speech Unlimited Alumni Tournament
Overall Team Sweepstakes:
First Place: University of Nebraska-Omaha
Second Place: Gustavus Adolphus College
Third Place: Concordia College, Moorhead
Overall Individual Sweepstakes:
Third Place: Luke Youngvorst
Communication Analysis:
First Place: Phil Helt
Third Place: Mary Cunningham
Fifth Place: Chloe Radcliffe
Drama:
First Place: Chloe Radcliffe
Third Place: Sam Hemmerich
DUO:
Third Place: CJ Hunt/ Sam Hemmerich
Extemporaneous Speaking:
Fourth Place: Mary Cunningham
Sixth Place: Claire Sagstuen
Impromptu:
Second Place: Claire Sagstuen
Informative:
First Place: Luke Youngvorst
Persuasion:
First Place: Chris Moua
Second Place: Luke Youngvorst
Fifth Place: Hannah Engel
POI:
Fifth Place: CJ Hunt
Prose:
Third Place: Chloe Radcliffe
Fifth Place: Eric Halvorson

The Gustavus Adolphus College Forensics team had a great start to the 2009-2010 with a strong showing this weekend at the fist and second Mid-American Forensics League Tournaments. Hosted jointly by Harper College (Palatine, IL) and by North Central College (Naperville, IL), these highly competitive tournaments featured several top 20 AFA schools including Bradley University and Illinois State University.

MAFL#1 at Harper College

Team Sweepstakes:
First Place: Bradley University
Second Place: Illinois State University
Third Place: Gustavus Adolphus College
Fourth Place: University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Fifth Place: Northern Illinois University

Communication Analysis:
First Place: Phillip Helt
Sixth Place: Mary Cunningham

Drama:
Second Place: Chloe Radcliffe
Fourth Place: Sam Hemmerich

DUO:
Third Place: Christopher Hunt/ Sam Hemmerich

Extemporaneous Speaking:
First Place: Mary Cunningham
Sixth Place: Allegra Birdseye

Persuasion:
First Place: Christopher Moua

Poetry:
Sixth Place: Christopher Hunt

POI:
Second Place: Christopher Hunt

Prose:
First Place: Chloe Radcliffe

MAFL#2 at Harper College

Team Sweepstakes:
First Place: Illinois State University
Second Place: Bradley University
Third Place: University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Fourth Place: Gustavus Adolphus College
Fifth Place: University of Northern Iowa

Communication Analysis:
Second Place: Chloe Radcliffe

Drama:
Second Place: Chloe Radcliffe

DUO:
Third Place: Christopher Hunt/ Sam Hemmerich

Persuasion:
First Place: Christopher Moua
Sixth Place: Mary Cunningham

POI:
First Place: Christopher Hunt

Prose:
Second Place: Chloe Radcliffe
Sixth Place: Sam Hemmerich

March 13-14, 2009

To close out the regular season, the Gustavus Forensics team hosted the 2009 District IV (the best district in the nation!) AFA-NIET Qualifier Tournament. This tournament is the last opportunity for students to qualify events for the American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament which will be held in Akron, Ohio on April 4-6, 2009. This tournament attracted the best teams from the midwest, boasting teams from Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Gustavus had an excellent showing, qualifying a few more slots for nationals. This tournament is also unique in that it recognizes all students that qualified for nationals. All in all, it was an excellent day for Gustavus Forensics!

Communication Analysis

Fifth Place: Maria Siegle

Info

Fourth Place: Sam Hemmerich (Qualified)

Extemporaneous Speaking

Fourth Place: Brittani Seagren (Qualified)

Poetry

Sixth Place: Katie Asfeld

Duo

Fourth Place: Marie Bushnell/CJ Hunt (Qualified)

Third Place: Kavan Rogness/Paula Wiggam (Qualified)

Gustavus Students headed to Ohio for the AFA-NIET

Seniors

Tasha Carlson

Kavan Rogness

Brittani Seagren

Maria Siegle

Juniors

Mary Cunningham

CJ Hunt

Paula Wiggam

Sophomores

Marie Bushnell

Eric Cronin

Phil Helt

Claire Sagstuen

First-years

Katie Asfeld

Allegra Birdseye

Chloe Goldade

Sam Hemmerich

Chloe Radcliffe

Lucas Youngvorst

March 6-7, 2009

To round out the season’s regular tournaments, the Gustavus forensics team headed up to Concordia College in Moorhead, MN for the third and fourth Valley Forensics League tournaments of the year. Both days proved to be very fruitful for the Gustavus team. Over the two days, each of the fifteen Gustie competitors took at least one event to finals. It was an excellent way to round off the regular season. Coming up is the District 4 qualifier tournament which Gustavus will be hosting. This will be the last opportunity for Gusties and others in the districts to qualify events for nationals. Check back in a week or so for results on that tournament. For now, take a look at this weekends results!

VFL #3

Poetry

Third Place: Katie Asfeld

Prose

Fourth Place: Kavan Rogness

Third Place: Marie Bushnell

Extemp

Second Place: Allegra Birdseye

Communication Analysis

Fifth Place: Maria Siegle

Impromptu

Fourth Place: Mary Cooley

Second Place: Brittani Seagren

POI

Third Place: Tasha Carlson

Second Place: Sam Hemmerich

Duo

Fifth Place: Marie Bushnell/CJ Hunt

Fourth Place: Kavan Rogness/Paula Wiggam

Persuade

Fifth Place: Brittani Seagren

First Place: Maria Siegle

Drama

Sixth Place: Mary Cunningham

Third Place: Paula Wiggam

First Place: Katie Asfeld

Inform

Sixth Place: Austin Lafferty

Fifth Place: Phil Helt

Third Place: Lucas Youngvorst

Second Place: Maria Siegle

VFL #4

Prose

Third Place: Sam Hemmerich

First Place: Kavan Rogness

Extemp

Fifth Place: Brittani Seagren

Impromptu

Fourth Place: Marie Bushnell

Third Place: Brittani Seagren

POI

Sixth Place: Sam Hemmerich

Second Place: Tasha Carlson

Duo

Fourth Place: Marie Bushnell/CJ Hunt

Persuade

Fourth Place: Brittani Seagren

First Place: Maria Siegle

Drama

Third Place: Katie Asfeld

Inform

Sixth Place: Lucas Youngvorst

Fifth Place: Austin Lafferty

Third Place: Maria Siegle

February 28, 2009

The Gustavus forensics team headed west for a quick one-day tournament at the South Dakota State University Bunny Bop. The annual tournament featured competition from around the region and was a great opportunity for everyone involved to qualify more pieces for nationals. Gustavus had another outstanding tournament, securing yet another first place team trophy.

Team Sweepstakes:

First Place: Gustavus Adolphus College

Second Place: Concordia College

Third Place: South Central College

ADS

Third Place: Eric Cronin

Second Place: Phil Helt

Communication Analysis

Fourth Place: Maria Siegle

Third Place: Claire Sagstuen

Drama

Third Place: Paula Wiggam

Poetry

Fourth Place: Marie Bushnell

Third Place: Katie Asfeld

Impromptu

Sixth Place: Allie Birdseye

Second Place: Maria Siegle

First Place: Brittani Seagren

POI

Fourth Place: Sam Hemmerich

Prose

Third Place: Kavan Rogness

First Place: Katie Asfeld

Info

Fifth Place: Austin Lafferty

Fourth Place: Sam Hemmerich

Third Place: Maria Siegle

Second Place: Phil Helt

Extemp

Fourth Place: Allegra Birdseye

Third Place: Brittani Seagren

Second Place: Maria Siegle

Duo

Fourth Place: Marie Bushnell/CJ Hunt

February 21-22

The Gustavus Adolphus College Forensics team successfully defended their 2008 state championship by placing first out of ten schools at the 2009 Minnesota Collegiate Forensics Association State Championships! The Gusties placed first in six of the thirteen events. Senior Tasha Carlson will represent Minnesota at the 2009 Interstate Oratorical Association National Contest, the oldest annual speaking competition. This marks the fifth consecutive year Gustavus will have a representative at the IOA National Contest. Freshman Chloe Radcliffe earned Gustavus’ second Individual Sweepstakes Championship by winning three state championships.

Overall Team Sweepstakes, Open Division

First: Gustavus Adolphus College = 446 points

Second: MSU, Mankato = 408 points

Third: Concordia College = 213 points

Individual Sweepstakes

First: Chloe Radcliffe

Fifth: Maria Siegle

Sixth: Mary Cunningham

Seventh: Tasha Carlson

Oratory

First Place: Tasha Carlson

Fifth Place: Phil Helt

After Dinner Speaking:

First Place: Chloe Radcliffe

Second Place: Chloe Goldade

Fourth Place: CJ Hunt

Fifth Place: Phil Helt

Extemporaneous Speaking

First Place: Mary Cunningham

Second Place: Claire Sagstuen

Fifth Place: Maria Siegle

Drama

First Place: Chloe Radcliffe

Fourth Place: Tasha Carlson

Prose

First Place: Tasha Carlson

Second Place: Chloe Radcliffe

Fifth Place: Kavan Rogness

Impromptu Speaking

First Place: Maria Siegle

Third Place: Mary Cunningham

Program Oral Interpretation

First Place: Chloe Radcliffe

Communication Analysis

Third Place: Maria Siegle

Fifth Place: Phil Helt

Dramatic Duo

Third Place: Katie Asfeld/Sam Hemmerich

Sixth Place: Marie Bushnell/CJ Hunt

Informative Speaking

Sixth Place: Maria Siegle

Poetry

Fourth Place: Kavan Rogness

Sixth Place: Christopher Hunt

Minnesota Informative

Second Place: Mary Cooley

Third Place: Eric Cronin

Parliamentary Debate

Second Place: Mary Cunningham/Claire Sagstuen

Parliamentary Debate Individual Speaker Award

Fourth Place: Claire Sagstuen

February 14-15, 2009

Instead of spending time with significant others or lamenting single status, the Gustavus Forensics team spent Valentine’s Day in Eau Claire, Wisconsin for the 2009 Lovefest. Hosted jointly by the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire and by Ripon College, this year’s Lovefest boasted competition such as Bradley University, Minnesota State University Mankato, Illinois State University, University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, and more. Gusties were feeling the love with a third place finish on the first day and a first place finish the first day, taking second over all.

Overall Team Sweepstakes:

First Place: Bradley University

Second Place: Gustavus Adolphus College

Third Place: Illinois State University

Overall Individual Sweepstakes

First Place: Chloe Radcliffe

Grace Walsh Invitational (First Day)

Team Sweepstakes:

First Place: Bradley University

Second Place: Illinois State University

Third Place: Gustavus Adolphus College

Fourth Place: Northwestern University

Fifth Place: Minnesota State University – Mankato

Individual Sweepstakes

Third Place: Mary Cunningham

Impromptu 

Sixth Place: Maria Siegle

Fifth Place: Austin Lafferty

Third Place: Mary Cunningham

Prose

Fifth Place: Chloe Radcliffe

Fourth Place: Tasha Carlson

Informative

Fifth Place: Phil Helt

Third Place: Lucas Youngvorst

Second Place: Maria Siegle

Poetry

Fifth Place: Kavan Rogness

Duo

Sixth Place: Katie Asfeld/Sam Hemmerich

POI

Fifth Place: Sam Hemmerich

Third Place: Chloe Radcliffe

Persuasion

First Place: Mary Cunningham

Red Hawk Invitational (Second day)

Overall Team Sweepstakes

First Place: Gustavus Adolphus College

Second Place: Bradley University

Third Place: Illinois State University

Fourth Place: Northwestern University

Fifth Place: Minnesota State University Mankato

Individual Sweepstakes

First Place: Chloe Radcliffe

POI

Third Place: Kavan Rogness

Second Place: Chloe Radcliffe

Persuasion

Seventh Place: Phil Helt

Fifth Place: Lucas Youngvorst

Prose

Third Place: Katie Asfeld

Informative

Fourth Place: Lucas Youngvorst

Second Place: Sam Hemmerich

Duo

Seventh Place: Kavan Rogness/Paula Wiggam

Sixth Place: Chloe Goldade/Chloe Radcliffe

Impromptu

Fifth Place: Maria Siegle

Second Place: Mary Cunningham

First Place: Chloe Radcliffe

Drama

Fifth Place: Paula Wiggam

Second Place: Chloe Radcliffe

February 6-7, 2009

After taking a weekend off to rest and recuperate, Gustavus went north to our friends at St. Cloud State for the Ice Box Classic. Featuring competition from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota, the Gusties had a triumphant showing. Gustavus students placed in finals in every event, in some cases taking a majority of the positions in final rounds. Also, four of the top five individual speakers were from Gustavus. Debate was also offered at the Ice Box, and Gustavus had one team make it to semifinals and a student that took a top five individual speaker award for debate. It was an excellent indicator of where the team is at and what needs to be worked on in the weeks leading up to the state tournament.

Team Sweepstakes

First Place: Gustavus Adolphus College

Second Place: Minnesota State University Mankato

Third Place: Concordia College

Individual Sweepstakes

Fourth Place: Tasha Carlson

Third Place: Mary Cunningham

Second Place: Phil Helt

First Place: CJ Hunt

Parliamentary Debate

Semifinalists: Marie Bushnell/Maria Siegle

Parliamentary Debate Individual Speaker

Second Place: Mary Cunningham

Prose

Fifth Place: Kavan Rogness

Fourth Place: CJ Hunt

Second Place: Chloe Goldade

First Place: Tasha Carlson

Impromptu

Sixth Place: Maria Siegle

Fifth Place: Claire Sagstuen

Third Place: Austin Lafferty

Informative

Fourth Place: Austin Lafferty

Third Place: Mary Cunningham

POI

Fifth Place: Tasha Carlson

First Place: CJ Hunt

Duo

Fourth Place: Marie Bushnell/CJ Hunt

First Place: Kavan Rogness/Paula Wiggam

Persuade

Fourth Place: Maria Siegle

Third Place: Mary Cunningham

First Place: Phil Helt

ADS

Second Place: Phil Helt

First Place: CJ Hunt

Poetry

Second Place: Kavan Rogness

Drama

Sixth Place: Mary Cunningham

Fifth Place: Kavan Rogness

Fourth Place: Paula Wiggam

Third Place: Tasha Carlson

CA

Fifth Place: Claire Sagstuen

Third Place: Phil Helt