Bradley Team is Ntl Runner-up & Students Win 3 Individual Championships in Speech Tourney

The Bradley University Speech Team finished the season as the National Runner-Ups at the National Forensic Association's National Championship in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Out of the 77 colleges and universities, Jerome Gregory (Sr.) was crowned the national champion as the top overall speaker. Gregory also brought home the national championship in Persuasive Speaking. The team's 2nd place showing was spearheaded by many underclassmen having success for the very first time. Megan Magee (So.) found herself in her first national finals and made the most of the opportunity winning the national championship in Poetry Interpretation. These three titles take Bradley up to 161 individual national championships.

The team had 82 of their 143 speeches in elimination rounds. "The pairing of young success with the strong performance from our upperclassmen made this 2nd place showing possible," said Assistant Director of Forensics Justin Helmley. Seniors Abby Surprenant and Abby Hanneman along with Junior Annie Schuver added to the team's 10 national finals.

"None of this would be possible without our alumni. Our alums coach, write motivating messages, and even come with us to nationals. Ultimately, a lot of what we are facing is a resource game and donations made by our alumni made many of the logistic expenses possible including meals and transportation," said Director of Forensics Ken Young.

While the speech team has finished its season as a team, Senior Abby Surprenant won the opportunity to represent Illinois at the Interstate Oratory Contest in Lafayette, Louisiana April 21st and 22nd.

Full results from NFA:

Pentathlon Top Overall Speakers
National Champion Jerome Gregory (Sr.)
5th Place Abby Surprenant (Sr.)
11th Place Annie Schuver (Jr.)

Persuasive Speaking
National Champion Jerome Gregory (Sr.)
2nd Place Abby Surprenant (Sr.)
Top 12 Semifinalists
Abby Hanneman (Sr.)
Annie Schuver (Jr.)
Top 24 Quarterfinalists
Sophie Honeyman (Jr.)
Melissa Hernandez (Jr.)
Top 48 Octafinalists
Jack Ellis (So.)
Chandler Songer (Jr.)

Poetry Interpretation
National Champion Megan Magee (So.)
Top 24 Quarterfinalists
Jacob Sanders (Fr.)
Dakotah Asbury (Sr.)
Top 48 Octafinalists
Trijae Johnson (Fr.)
Cassie Edlund (Fr.)
Jessica Hernandez (Jr.)
Brenna Fuhr (Fr.)
Sarah Bujold (Fr.)
Grace Smith (Fr.)

After Dinner Speaking
5th Place Abby Surprenant (Sr.)
Top 12 Semifinalist
Natasha Prosek (Jr.)
Top 24 Quarterfinalist
Abby Hanneman (Sr.)
Top 48 Octafinalists
Jerome Gregory (Sr.)
Pierre Paul (Fr.)
Natalie Aiken (So.)
Sarah Brashear (Jr.)
Kylie Caligiuri (Sr.)

Informative Speaking
2nd Place Jerome Gregory (Sr.)
4th Place Abby Hanneman (Jr.)
Top 12 Semifinalist
Sarah Brashear (Jr.)
Top 24 Quarterfinalists
Kylie Caligiuri (Sr.)
Matt Friedhoff (So.)
Abby Surprenant (Sr.)
Sophie Honeyman (Jr.)
Top 48 Octafinalists
Annie Schuver (Jr.)
Matthew Johnson (Fr.)
Greg Huber (So.)
Sarah Bujold (Jr.)
Clayton Frankel (Jr.)

Impromptu Speaking
3rd Place Jerome Gregory (Sr.)
Top 12 Semifinalist
Abby Surprenant (Sr.)
Top 24 Quarterfinalist
Annie Schuver (Jr.)
Top 48 Octafinalist
Sophie Honeyman (Jr.)

Rhetorical Criticism
3rd Place Annie Schuver (Jr.)
5th Place Jerome Gregory (Sr.)
Top 12 Semifinalist
Abby Hanneman (Sr.)
Jacob Sanders (Fr.)
Top 24 Quarterfinalists
Matt Friedhoff (So.)
Abby Surprenant (Sr.)
Top 48 Quarterfinalists
Melissa Fuentes (Fr.)
Sophie Honeyman (Jr.)
Natalie Aiken (So.)
Kylie Caligiuri (Sr.)

Prose Interpretation
6th Place Megan Magee (So.)
Top 12 Semifinalist
Sarah Brashear (Jr.)
Top 48 Octafinalists
Greg Huber (So.)
Abby Hanneman (Sr.)
Trijae Johnson (Fr.)
Kyle Powers (So.)

Dramatic Interpretation
Top 24 Quarterfinalists
Dakotah Asbury (Sr.)
Megan Magee (So.)
Cassie Edlund (Fr.)
Greg Huber (So.)
Sarah Brashear (Jr.)
Amelia Burns (Fr.)
Top 48 Octafinalists
Jack Ellis (So.)
Grace Smith (So.)
Matt Friedhoff (So.)
Natasha Prosek (Jr.)

Duo Interpretation
Top 12 Semifinalist
Megan Magee (So.)/Sarah Brashear (Jr.)
Top 24 Quarterfinalists
Melissa Hernandez (Jr.)/Jessica Hernandez (Jr.)
Natasha Prosek (Jr.)/Dakotah Asbury (Sr.)
Greg Huber (So.)/Jacob Sanders (Fr.)
Trijae Johnson (Fr.)/Cassie Edlund (Fr.)
Megan Magee (So.)/Cassie Edlund (Fr.)
Top 48 Octafinalists
Matt Friedhoff (So.)/Abby Hanneman (Sr.)
Natasha Prosek (Jr.)/Sophie Honeyman (Jr.)
Tony Evans (Fr.)/Jacob Sanders (Fr.)
Grace Smith (So.)/Dakotah Asbury (Sr.)
Trijae Johnson (Fr.)/Kyle Powers (So.)

Extemporaneous Speaking
Top 24 Quarterfinalists
Jerome Gregory (Sr.)
Annie Schuver (Jr.)
Top 48 Octafinalists
Chandler Songer (Fr.)
Abby Surprenant (Sr.)