MavForensics Are Back-to-Back State Champs

OMAHA – For the second year in a row, the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s (UNO) competitive speech team, MavForensics, have been named best in the state.

This is the first time MavForensics, who finished fifth nationally at the American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament (AFA-NIET) last year, has repeated as state champions.

Competing against UNO were three top-25 finishers from last year’s national tournament, including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (No. 7), Doane College (No. 10), and Hastings College (No. 25).

“This was a team effort by every member of MavForensics,” Head Coach Abbie Syrek said. “Without the contributions of every team member, we couldn't have done this. Whatever expectations I have, this team keeps exceeding them.”

This year’s Nebraska Intercollegiate Forensics Association (NIFA) tournament, which took place on Saturday, Feb. 13, and is considered one of the most difficult state tournaments in the nation, was hosted by Doane and took place in Crete.

Up next for MavForensics is the 2016 AFA-NIET, which takes place from April 2-4 in Gainesville, Florida.

In addition to the MavForensics team effort, members were also recognized individually.

At NIFA, UNO was identified as having two of the three best speakers in the state. Catie Zaleski, the team’s only senior, was named State Champion and sophomore Dominic Hernandez placed third overall.

In addition to her individual championship, Zaleski was named state champion across three different categories: Program of Oral Interpretation, Poetry Interpretation and Dramatic Interpretation. Zaleski also finished second in Prose Interpretation, Informative Speaking and Duo Interpretation alongside Freshman Abby Hoffman.

Hernandez was named state champion for After Dinner Speaking and co-champion with junior Abbie Herbert in Duo Interpretation. He also finished third in Oral Interpretation and fifth in Poetry Interpreation.

With her second-place finish in the Oratory competition, freshmen Abbie Perry Perry will be able to compete at the Interstate Oratory Competition, which is the oldest public speaking event in North America. This is the first year UNO will host the competition.

A full list of those from MavForensics who placed in this year’s state tournament is included below.

For additional information about MavForensics, contact head coach Abbie Syrek at abbie.syrek@gmail.com.

For media requests, please contact:

Sam Petto, UNO Media Relations Coordinator
unonews@unomaha.edu
402.554.2704

or

Charley Reed, UNO Associate Director of Media Relations
unonews@unomaha.edu
402.554.2129