Lincoln, Neb., Oct. 10, 2002--The University of Nebraska-Lincoln forensics team took first place in two tournaments last weekend at Kansas State University in Manhattan with team members advancing to final rounds in 27 different events. The two first-place finishes combined to give UNL the overall championship for the weekend.
Several team members won individual event championships. On Oct. 5, senior Tom Cosenza of Lincoln won first place in persuasive speaking, junior Adam Knowlton of Papillion won first place in dramatic interpretation, and sophomore Kevin Tvrdy of Wahoo won first place in informative speaking. Knowlton and Tvrdy both qualified for the American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament.
On Oct. 6 in a tournament at Manhattan sponsored by Hastings College, Cosenza again won first place in persuasive speaking, Tvrdy won first place in prose interpretation, and sophomore Craig McGill of Wahoo won first place in informative speaking. Cosenza and McGill both qualified for nationals. Cosenza was also awarded first place in overall individual speaker awards, placing him third among all speakers for the weekend.
"I feel very proud and privileged to be a part of this team," Cosenza said. "This is my last year competing and I have wanted this team to enjoy this kind of shared success. I know that everyone that competed this weekend, and even those that didn't, contributed to this success. It also goes without mention that our coaching staff got us to the point where we could perform like we did."
Nebraska placed fourth in a tournament the previous weekend at Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo. Tvrdy and Knowlton won first place in informative speaking and dramatic interpretation. The team will compete as a full squad, including debate, Oct. 11-13 at Creighton University.
Contact: Clayton Johnson, Director of Forensics,
Communication Studies, (402) 472-6920 (cjohnson@unlserve.unl.edu)
For questions regarding these releases, contact:
tsimons1@unl.edu
(402) 472-8514, Fax: (402) 472-7825