Minnesota State University, Mankato's Speech Team has achieved its best ranking in years with top finishes in two of the nation's most prestigious college forensic tournaments. And it is one of only a handful of institutions with an All-American team member: senior Matthew Collie.
The Minnesota State Mankato team placed eighth in the National Forensic Association National Championships April 14-17, as well as second in the NFA President's I Division. This is the first time in 15 years that a Maverick forensic team has ranked among the top 10 in the NFA championship.
The team finished 19th in the American Forensic Association National Individual Events Tournament March 30-April 4 - its best ranking in that tournament since 1991.
More than 500 student speakers and 85 schools from across the country competed in the NFA Championships, held at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Ninety-seven schools were entered in the AFA-NIET competition at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Collie is one of 12 speakers nationwide who was named to the AFA-NIET All-American Team. Students are selected based on competitive success in forensics, academic achievement and campus and community service.
In the AFA-NIET tournament Collie finished fifth in Persuasive Speaking, was a semi-finalist (top 12) in Extemporaneous Speaking, and a quarter-finalist (top 24) in Impromptu Speaking. He also placed 19th in the Individual Sweepstakes among 500 competitors.
In the NFA Individual Sweepstakes Collie finished fourth - best finish ever for a Minnesota State Mankato student. In that tournament Collie placed second in Impromptu Speaking, third in Rhetorical Criticism, fourth in Extemporaneous Speaking, and was a semi-finalist (top 12 in the nation) in Persuasive Speaking.
In addition to Collie, students who contributed points toward the eighth-place NFA ranking were Karie Menser, David Brennan, Melanie Nelmark, Emily Kofoed, Joshua Randall, Nicole Goebel and Grant Anderson. The team earned points in all 25 of the events that it was entered.
Minnesota State Mankato students attending the AFA-NIET included Collie, Menser, Brennan, Randall, Kofoed, Anderson and Elizabeth Drommerhausen.
In the AFA-NIET tournament, the Mavericks earned points from every student, in every one of 19 individual events.
"This is a highly commendable achievement, considering the size of the tournament and the depth of competition," said Director of Forensics Leah White. "No other top-ranked team earned points from every one of their competitors and events."
Minnesota State Mankato is one of only eight schools to qualify and compete at every individual events national tournament sponsored by the American Forensic Association since its inception.
Maverick Forensics, part of the Department of Speech Communication, is a co-curricular program dedicated to providing students with the opportunity to enhance their communication abilities.
The team is coached by White, Assistant Director of Forensics Brian Klosa, and graduate students Jessica Samens, James Kozinski, Merci Decker, Hillary Hoover, Holly Manning, Sara Gronstal and Danielle Holbrook.
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