SIC's Forensic Falcons are 2017 state champs
<div align="left"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">HARRISBURG</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"> – Southeastern Illinois College Forensic Falcons stomped the competition this past weekend to win the state championship speech tournament in the community college division at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. </span></span></div>
<div align="left"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">The team was also the only community college in the top five open sweepstakes division, placing alongside four-year institutions such as Bradley University, Northwestern University, Illinois State University, and North Central College.</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Southeastern also claimed the top three community college speaker awards at state. Gabe Motsinger (Carrier Mills) earned best overall community college speaker at the tournament. </span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Cassidy Maynard and Rachael Hooven, both from Harrisburg, received second and third respectively. Individual state champion titles went to Carrice McDaniel (Harrisburg), Rachael Hooven (Harrisburg), Cassidy Maynard (Harrisburg), and Shannon Welker (Harrisburg).</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Paul Cummins, SIC Director of Forensics, said that the state tournament only allows schools to bring four entries in each event, evening the playing field and making the level of competition exceptionally rigorous.</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">The team is also coached by Jenny Billman and Dr. Tyler Billman.</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Individual results from the tournament are as follows:</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Gabe Motsinger, Carrier Mills: Individual sweepstakes champion in the two year division, fourth in open prose, fifth in open duo interpretation (with partner Cassidy Maynard), and sixth in open dramatic interpretation.</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Cassidy Maynard, Harrisburg: Tournament champion in communication analysis, second in individual sweepstakes, fourth in open informative speaking, fifth in open duo interpretation (with partner Gabe Motsinger).</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Rachael Hooven, Harrisburg: Tournament champion in prose interpretation, tournament champion in dramatic interpretation, fourth in oratory, and sixth in speech to entertain.</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Carrice McDaniel, Harrisburg: Tournament champion in oratory, second in speech to entertain, fifth in communication analysis, and sixth in informative speaking.</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Shannon Welker, Harrisburg: Tournament champion in impromptu speaking, tournament champion in novice extemporaneous speaking, sixth in open informative speaking.</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Shay Wood, Shawneetown: Second in impromptu speaking, second in poetry interpretation, fourth in dramatic interpretation.</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Haley Rushing, Marion: Second in prose interpretation, fourth in communication analysis, fourth in informative speaking.</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Chanse Tullis, Springerton: Tournament champion in novice communication analysis, fourth in duo interpretation (with partner Joli Murphy, fifth in impromptu speaking.</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Nick Cofield, Carrier Mills: Tournament champion in novice impromptu speaking, third in extemporaneous speaking.</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Joli Murphy, Springerton: second place in novice speech to entertain, fourth in duo interpretation (with partner Chanse Tullis).</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Kaydee Dycus, Mt. Vernon: third in poetry interpretation, fifth in dramatic interpretation.</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Noah Taylor, Eldorado: sixth in poetry interpretation.</span></span></div>