UK Forensics Doubles Previous Best and Has First Competitor in Elimination Rounds at NFA Nationals

 

This release was prepared by Director of Forensics, Timothy Bill.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 21, 2016) – The University of Kentucky Forensics Team joined 85 other colleges and universities for the 2016 National Forensic Association national tournament hosted by Ball State University. UK placed 24th at the competition which is nearly double the team’s previous best performance of 42nd at the 2015 national tournament. Over 1,800 speeches and 100 debaters from across the nation took part in this five-day event. Each speech has to qualify to attend this tournament by placing in the final round at a regular season competition. This year, UK qualified 30 speeches which is another team best.

Senior Abel Rodriguez III advanced to the quarterfinal rounds in after dinner speaking and extemporaneous speaking. These two breaks to the elimination rounds at the National Forensic Association national tournament are the first since the team began competition in 2012. “As one of the founding members of the team, Abel has been a part of UK Forensics from the very beginning” said coach Timothy Bill. “It is really fitting that he is also our first out-round participant at NFA. He has worked incredibly hard for this moment and has truly earned his place among the nation’s best.”

            The University of Kentucky Forensic Team’s next competition with be the Interstate Oratorical Association national tournament held at University of Nebraska at Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska from April 28-29. Only two students are allowed to participate from each state and this is the first year that the University of Kentucky has ever qualified for this tournament. Anyone with questions about this event or the forensics team in general are encouraged to contact Director of Forensics Timothy Bill at timothy.bill [at] uky.edu. UK Forensics is a student organization in the School of Information Science in the College of Communication and Information. The team regularly competes in twelve public speaking events and three forms of debate. To find out more, please visit ukforensics.com.