Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT - School of ...

Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
December 15, 2010 Dr. Kevin Meyer, Advisor Megan Koch
kmeyer@ilstu.edu mkoch@ilstu.edu
(309) 438-3277 (309) 438-8447
School of Communication (309) 438-3671
ISU Claws through Wisconsin and Ohio
NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State University Speech Team split its squad between two
tournaments the weekend before Thanksgiving, travelling to the campuses of the University of
Wisconsin at Madison and Whitewater as well as to Bowling Green State University. In
Wisconsin, the Speaking Redbirds took third place out of a field of nine schools that included
Bradley University, University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, and Northern Illinois University. In
Ohio, the team took third place on Saturday and first place on Sunday in a field of fourteen
schools that included The Ohio State University, Eastern Michigan University, and Ohio
University.
In Wisconsin, senior Kerry
Krumwiede (Downers Grove) captured
first place in Prose Interpretation, fifth in
Dramatic Interpretation and Poetry
Interpretation, and took fourth place in
Duo Interpretation with partner
sophomore Michael Tristano (Downers
Grove). Tristano also took third in
Communication Analysis and first in
Program Oral Interpretation and Prose.
Senior Breck Jones (Equality) won
Persuasion and took third in
Extemporaneous Speaking. Junior Caroline
Campana (Birmingham, MI) took fourth in Impromptu and Informative Speaking. Sophomore
Laurelai Histed (Wheaton) placed second in Persuasion and sixth in Prose. Seniors Jairus
Bellamy (Chicago) and sophomore Justin Gainer (Alsip) took fourth in Duo Interpretation.
Bellamy also placed fourth in After Dinner Speaking. Freshman Raegan Larberg (Lemont) took
fourth in Prose and sixth in Informative, while freshman Jess Henry (Plainfield) placed second
Poetry and sixth in Prose.
In Ohio, Junior Marueen Brothman (Hoffman Estates) had an outstanding weekend
taking first place in Informative, Prose, and Dramatic Interpretation, second place in Program
Oral Interpretation, and fifth place in Poetry. Senior Allison Sebolt (Waterloo) placed first in
Communication Analysis and second in Impromptu. Freshman Josh Kelley (Webster, NY) placed
second in Impromptu. Duo partners and juniors Michaelene Stalla (Hometown) and Samar

Dabebneh (Orland Park) had a great weekend, placing first in Duo Interpretation. Stalla also
placed fourth in Dramatic Interpretation and sixth in Persuasion, while Dabebnah took second
in both Persuasion and Prose.
“It was a good weekend for our team,” said Tristano. “It is always great to compete after
a weekend off.”
The 40 member Speech Team is part of the Forensics Union, the oldest and most
successful registered student organization on campus- boasting over 50 individual titles and six
team titles at nationals. The team competes at tournaments around the country in public
speaking and oral interpretation events. This April, ISU will host the prestigious 2011 NFA
National Tournament, which is expected to draw over 100 schools from around the country,
bringing in business to the local economy and campus community. Last year, ISU placed third at
NFA nationals and is aiming for another top five finish; this time on their home turf. For more
information about the ISU Forensics Union, please contact their advisor, Dr. Kevin Meyer:
kmeyer@ilstu.edu, or visit the team’s website www.forensics.ilstu.edu.
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