The SMSU Forensics team made program history March 19-20 by placing 9th nationally in the virtual National Speech Championship.

Five Forensics team members represented SMSU, and each earned top tournament awards. It marks the highest national placing in program history.

The win follows the team’s state championship in the Limited Entry Division of the Minnesota State Forensics Tournament in February.

“This is an historic achievement,” said Director of Forensics Professor Ben Walker. “We don’t just compete against the same size schools. In forensics, you go head-to-head with all teams. For our students to be ranked 9th overall in the country is a monumental achievement. No SMSU Forensics team has ever placed this high at a national tournament.”

There were approximately 40 schools participating, said Walker, including national powers Bradley University, the University of Minnesota, George Mason, and Ball State.

Senior Devyn Halvorson, a communication studies major from Devil’s Lake, N.D., earned 4th place with her after dinner speaking performance, where she used humor to persuade her audience. “The whole reason I do this activity is to make people aware of vital things that need changing,” said Halvorson. “I have heard so many people say ‘women can’t be funny,’ and I just proved all of them wrong. This was a dream come true and an honor.”

Halvorson also was a semifinalist in duo interpretation with partner Kristen Neumann, a senior English education major from Chester, S.D. Halvorson was also a semifinalist in communication analysis.

Jenna Zeug, a junior history education major from Marshall, earned awards for all three of her performances. “I’m proud of the showing we put forward at this tournament,” Zeug said. She was a semifinalist in the oral interpretation category, speaking on the topic of how teachers deserve better treatment. She also earned quarterfinalist awards in persuasive speaking and prose interpretation.

First-time competitors also excelled at the tournament. Junior English education major Sarah Spieker from Worthington was a semifinalist in communication analysis and a quarterfinalist in poetry interpretation.

First-year student Nedoh Gyi, an education major from Worthington, was a semifinalist in prose interpretation and was featured in the novice exhibition with her persuasive speech.

In addition, Assistant Director of Forensics Julie Walker won the National Service Award for the second straight year.

The virtual environment was different from traditional competitions, noted Zeug, who will be team president next year. “I miss the socialization of an in-person meet, but this experience was still a great one, and I’m happy with how everything went,” she said.

“I am so proud of our students,” said Walker. “They performed their hearts out. It is not easy to speak to a camera when you are used to speaking to a live audience, but they adapted and proved they are among the best speakers in the country. The students worked hard for this.”

Earning a semifinalist award means the student was in the top 12 in the nation in the category. Earning a quarterfinalist award means the student was in the top 24 in the nation in the category. Novice exhibition is a place to honor first-year competitors whose performances stood out amidst the more experienced competition.

The SMSU Forensics team has been a part of SMSU for over 50 years.

The team competes at approximately 20 tournaments each year. Between 10 and 30 students compete on the team each semester.