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SIC speech team takes second in national contest

HARRISBURG - The Southeastern Illinois College Forensic Falcons won a gold medal in individual events and a silver medal overall at Phi Rho Pi, the national community college speech tournament in Daytona Beach, Florida.

What's more, every member of the SIC speech team advanced to a semifinal round at the national tournament.

"This team realized their potential at exactly the right time," said coach Tyler Billman. "They proved to be small, but mighty."

Freshman and national gold medalist Donovyn Valdez was excited to compete nationally.

"Even though we're a small college, we get to compete with the big dogs in California and other places, and we do really well," said Valdez. "It was unexpected and thrilling."

The 2018 national tournament marks the end of the Falcons' 2017-18 season. SIC's Forensic Falcons have a long history of success, placing first in overall national competition in 1986, 1997, and 2005. The team is coached by Paul Cummins, Jenny Billman and Tyler Billman.

"Our coaches are very skilled in what they do, very experienced and really know what they're doing. They push us harder than anyone I've ever met," Valdez said. "They help us to grow not just as performers, but as people."

That tenacity Valdez spoke of earned Director of Forensics Paul Cummins a prestigious service award this year at Phi Rho Pi, recognizing his decades of service to forensics and to the Phi Rho Pi National Tournament. Since 2009, Cummins has been one of the key coaches at the tournament, helping run it for hundreds of students.

SIC individual results from the national Phi Rho Pi tournament are as follows:

Kaydee Dycus of Mount Vernon: Silver award in Dramatic Interpretation, Bronze in Communication Analysis, Bronze in Prose, winner of the Warren-Dahlin Fellowship Award.

Cheriaca Huntley, Carrier Mills: A silver in Speech to Entertain, Bronze in Dramatic Interpretation, Bronze in Poetry.

Donovyn Valdez, Carrier Mills: Gold in Prose Interpretation, Bronze in Communication Analysis.

Angelica Harrelson, Eldorado: A silver in Communication Analysis, Bronze in Prose.

Chanse Tullis, Springerton: Gold in Prose.

Braden Cummins, Carrier Mills: Silver in Program Oral Interpretation.

Jordan Fricks, Eldorado: Bronze in Informative Speaking.

Coaches for the national award-winning Forensic Falcons team are, from left, Tyler Billman, Jenny Billman and Paul Cummins. Courtesy of SIC Media Services