MavForensics Makes Impact at National Speech Tournament

OMAHA – This past weekend, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) competitive speech team, MavForensics, racked up another milestone accomplishment at one of the nation’s toughest speech competitions.

On Saturday, Jan. 10, and Sunday, Jan. 11, MavForensics competed at this year’s “Hell Froze Over” tournament, so named due to the tournament being organized by two long-time rivals, the University of Texas and Bradley University. Due to the limited number of slots available at the tournament, it is regularly considered the best of the best.

Against stiff competition, MavForensics team placed third overall for the weekend with senior Karlee Currin earning first place and junior Catie Zaleski earning third place overall for their individual talents.

UNO’s third-place finish was due in large part to the team’s second-place ranking after Sunday’s competition, which is combined with Saturday’s scores to reach a final result. By placing second, UNO defeated Bradley University and George Mason University, who placed second and third nationally in 2014; comparatively, UNO placed eighth in last year’s tournament.

Leading the charge to the second-place finish, UNO Zaleski won three individual championships and placed first in individual sweepstakes. Currin won two individual champion, including “Duo Interpretation” with Zaleski, and placed second in the individual sweepstakes.

“Although the MavForensics team has had many notable results over the last nine years, few can compare to the team’s achievements this past weekend,” explains coach Abbie Syrek. “With only seven competitors traveling to the event, we stood toe-to-toe with the nation’s best”

A complete list of the weekend’s results for the MavForensics team follows:

Hell Froze Over Day One

Communication Analysis
Natalie Brooks (Senior) – Semifinalist

Prose Interpretation
Catie Zaleski – Semifinalist
Karlee Currin – Semifinalist

Poetry Interpretation
Catie Zaleski – Semifinalist

Persuasive Speaking
Natalie Brooks – Semifinalist

Program of Oral Interpretation
Karlee Currin – First Place

Hell Froze Over Day Two

Prose Interpretation
Catie Zaleski – First Place
Karlee Currin – Semifinalist

Program of Oral Interpretation
Karlee Currin – First Place

Duo Interpretation
Karlee Currin/Catie Zaleski – First Place

Dramatic Interpretation
Catie Zaleski – First Place
Abbie Herbert - Semifinalist

After Dinner Speaking
Karlee Currin – Third Place

Poetry Interpretation
Catie Zaleski – Fifth Place

Communication Analysis
Dan Cutter (Senior) – Fifth Place
Natalie Brooks - Semifinalist

Impromptu Speaking
Dan Cutter – Semifinalist

Extemporaneous Speaking
Natalie Brooks – Semifinalist

Informative Speaking
Natalie Brooks – Semifinalist

Individual Sweepstakes
Catie Zaleski – First Place
Karlee Currin – Second Place

Team Sweepstakes
UNO – Second Place

Overall Individual Sweepstakes
Karlee Currin – First Place
Catie Zaleski – Third Place

Overall Team Sweepstakes
UNO – Third Place

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.

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