Kansas State University

Speech team captures 10th in nation

Submitted by Communications and Marketing

The Kansas State University Speech Team placed 10th in the nation at the American Forensics Association-National Individual Events Tournament, April 9, at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

It's the 23rd time since 1992 that the K-State Speech Team has placed in the top 20. Last year's team placed 14th. The K-State team competed against teams from 62 schools across the nation at the tournament.

The K-State team was led by two students who earned their way into the finals in four events. Logan Stacer, senior in communication studies, placed second in communication analysis, fourth in informative, fifth in poetry interpretation and finished as the seventh overall speaker in the nation. Nathan Dowell, sophomore in history, placed second in extemporaneous.

In addition, two Kansas State University students advanced to the quarterfinals, finishing in the top 24 of their events: Michelle Briggs, senior in psychology, advanced in the informative and poetry interpretation events, and Elliot Holcomb, senior in kinesiology, advanced in the persuasion and after dinner speaking events.

Points earned throughout the tournament determine the national placings. Along with the points earned by the four students in elimination rounds, 10 other team members helped place Kansas State university in the top 20 by the midway point of the tournament: Aly Acevedo, senior in communication studies; Macy Davis, junior in English; Kristen Egger, senior in mass communications; Melody Herren, junior in communication studies; Susannah Kaufman, junior in secondary education; Karly Kinsey, sophomore in history; Marley Lowe, freshman in communication studies; Adelina Parral, sophomore in life sciences; Jessica Pietrowski, sophomore in physics; and Hayley Spellman, sophomore in political science.

The K-State Speech Team is coached and led by Craig Brown, director of forensics and instructor of communication studies; Darren Epping, assistant director of forensics and instructor of communication studies; and Cassidy Stefka, Jacob Miller and Delta Wilson, all graduate teaching assistants in communication studies.

In a related note, Epping was elected vice chair for the American Forensics Association-National Individual Events Tournament and will play a key role in helping run the national organization throughout the year and helping administer the 2019 national tournament, which will be hosted by the University of Alabama.