Lincoln, Neb., Nov. 12, 2002--The University of Nebraska-Lincoln forensics team sent three speech competitors to the 55th annual L.E. Norton Invitational last weekend at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., and placed fifth.
Junior Juanita Page of Omaha won championships in poetry interpretation and program of oral interpretation. Junior Adam Knowlton of Papillion placed third in dramatic interpretation. Page and Knowlton together placed second in duo interpretation.
The two-day tournament is one of the largest collegiate speech tournaments of the year, attracting more 30 teams from all across the country.
"I am quite proud of Juanita and Adam," said senior Tom Cosenza of Lincoln, vice president of Cornhusker Forensics. "They came into this tournament ready and their performances speak for themselves."
While the Cornhusker forensics team has sent squads to the L.E. Norton Invitational in previous years, Cosenza said this is believed to be the first time that the team placed in the top five, meriting an award.
Knowlton and Page's duo interpretation placing qualified them for the American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament in April at the University of Mississippi. The Cornhusker forensics team has 15 events qualified for the national tournament, matching its total for last year.
The team will be sending a squad of debate competitors to Topeka, Kan., to compete at Washburn University this weekend, and will be send a full team of speech competitors to Nebraska Wesleyan University on Dec. 7.
CONTACT: Clayton Johnson, Director of Forensics, Communication Studies, (402) 472-6929 (cjohnson@unlserve.unl.edu)
For questions regarding these releases, contact:
tsimons1@unl.edu
(402) 472-8514, Fax: (402) 472-7825