Mavforensics: State Tournament Results

Mavforensics, the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s nationally-ranked speech team, recently competed at the Nebraska Intercollegiate Forensics Tournament (NIFA) to excellent results. This year, the state tournament was a synchronous virtual competition; students competed on the platform Zoom in individual classrooms on the UNO campus.

“Our small state tournament and the schools in Nebraska that join make up some of the fiercest competition in the country, and we are so proud of the work our team did,” says Amanda Goodrich, co-director of Mavforensics.

The Mavforensics team memorizes, perfects, and performs multiple ten-minute events for the tournament, and their hard work continues to show.

This year the team earned two state championships, three Top Novice Awards, and a Spirit of NIFA award. Two members of the team are advancing to the Interstate Oratory competition, and eight out of nine Mavericks are advancing to State Finals in at least one event. Out of the eleven event finals, Mavericks competed in nine.

Goodrich says, “The competition we face at the state tournament is extremely tough and we fell short of second place by one point.”

A Tale of Two Points

Hastings College and UNO have faced close competition through the last several seasons, and the last two years, the final placings at the State Tournament have been within ONE point of each other. In 2021, UNO earned 2nd place by one point ahead of Hastings. This year, courses reversed and Hastings took the 2nd place lead by one point. Excitement for next year’s state tournament, and how these excellent programs continue to develop, is already underway.

Other highlights from the state tournament include:

• All four true freshmen advanced to a final in at least one event; this is an AMAZING accomplishment. Congrats to freshman class Kadance McDonnell, Abbie Faris, Keith Allen, and Brooklynn Schmidt for earning state finalist placings. Student Trinity Weers ALSO finaled an event this year (Impromptu Speaking, 5th place), with 5 out of 6 of our first-year class earning state finalist placings.
• TWO STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: Addison Parr was named state champion in Program of Oral Interpretation and Veronica Peck was named state champion in Original Oratory
• THREE TOP NOVICE AWARDS: Trinity Weers in Program of Oral Interpretation, Kadance McDonnell in Prose, and Brooklynn Schmidt in Informative Speaking (Top Novice = top “first year” student placing in each individual event.)
• Veronica Peck was a finalist in all three events she competed with, and Riley Smith was a finalist in all four events she competed with. Making any final round at the state tournament is difficult, as they only take the top students based on preliminary round rankings, let alone all of the events competed with. Congratulations to Veronica and Riley for this impressive accomplishment.
• The top two placings in Original Oratory, Veronica Peck and Brooklynn Schmidt, get an automatic bid to “Interstate Oratory,” the oldest public speaking competition in the country. Each state only gets two entries, and Mavforensics will be representing both spots for Nebraska this year. We are incredibly proud of our two persuaders, Brooklynn and Veronica! Interstate Oratory competition will be held at Butler University in Indiana, April 22-23.
• Kadance McDonnell is a state finalist in After Dinner Speaking (6th).
• Both Addison Parr & Riley Smith and Keith Allen & Abigail Faris are state finalists for Duo Interpretation (3rd and 6th).
• Trinity Weers is a state finalist in Impromptu Speaking (5th).
• Addison Parr is a state finalist in Poetry (3rd).
• Addison Parr was awarded the Spirit of NIFA, which is awarded to two students who embody Nebraska forensics - incredible talent, amazing leadership, positive audience member, and one who shows kindness towards others.
• Team Sweepstakes: 3rd overall.

“With only nine competing Mavericks, this small squad continues to do absolutely amazing things,” says Goodrich. “We are so proud of the work and heart that our students commit to daily and are proud to represent such an amazing state; being part of the strong tradition of excellence in Nebraska forensics is an honor.”

Goodrich is hopeful that the National Tournament, which will be hosted at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln this year, will be in-person, following appropriate safety protocols. It is scheduled for the first week of April.

Interested in being a part of the Mavforensics team? Contact Director Amanda Goodrich at agoodrich@unomaha.edu.

Students pictured in black and white photo on the staircase in front of the Arts and Sciences building, from BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: sophomore Trinity Weers, freshman Keith Allen, freshman Brooklynn Schmidt. FRONT ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: freshman Kadance McDonnell, junior Riley Smith, senior Addison Parr, sophomore Brooklyn Smith, sophomore Veronica Peck. (Not pictured in photos: Freshman Abbie Faris)