2011 Minnesota Collegiate Forensics Association State Tournament
Held at Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, MN
February 19 – 20, 2011
Over the weekend, the Gustavus Adolphus College Forensics team won the Individual Events portion of the state tournament and lost in debate, placing second at the 2011 Minnesota Collegiate Forensics Association State Championships, narrowly defeated by Concordia College in Moorhead.
Competing against twelve other schools, Gustavus dominated the individual events portion of the tournament, winning more event championships than any other school, placing first in seven events. Seniors Claire Sagstuen and Phil Helt each won two events. Sagstuen won Extemporaneous Speaking and Impromptu Speaking, while Helt won Editorial Impromptu and Oratory. With their two victories apiece, Sagstuen and Helt placed second and third, respectively, in Individual Sweepstakes.
Other event champions include senior Eric Cronin in After Dinner Speaking, sophomore Kate Bissen in Informative and sophomore Kaitlin Burlingame in Prose Interpretation.
By winning Oratory, Phil Helt qualified to represent Minnesota at the 2011 Interstate Oratorical Association National Contest, the oldest annual speaking competition. This marks the sixth consecutive year Gustavus will have a representative at the IOA National Contest. This year’s 142nd contest will be held on the campus of James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, April 22 – 23, 2011.
Overall Team Sweepstakes, Open Division
First Place: Concordia College = 365 points
Second Place: Gustavus Adolphus College = 336 points
Third Place: Minnesota State University, Mankato = 200 points
Individual Sweepstakes
Second Place: Claire Sagstuen
Third Place: Phil Helt
Final Results:
After Dinner Speaking
First Place: Eric Cronin
Third Place: Phil Helt
Communication Analysis
Second Place: Phil Helt
Drama
Second Place: Chloe Radcliffe
Third Place: Sam Hemmerich
Dramatic Duo
Third Place: Kate Bissen & Hannah Engel
Editorial Impromptu
First Place: Phil Helt
Third Place: Claire Sagstuen
Extemporaneous Speaking
First Place: Claire Sagstuen
Third Place: Kirsten Craft
Impromptu Speaking
First Place: Claire Sagstuen
Third Place: Chloe Radcliffe
Fifth Place: Kate Bissen
Seventh Place: Chris Moua
Informative
First Place: Kate Bissen
Third Place: Eric Cronin
Sixth Place: Phil Helt
Oratory
First Place: Phil Helt
Third Place: Claire Sagstuen
Fifth Place: Kate Bissen
Sixth Place: Chris Moua
Poetry
Third Place: Kelsey Abele
Prose
First Place: Kaitlin Burlingame
Third Place: Sam Hemmerich
Fourth Place: Kelsey Abele