The Southeast Forensics Team captured 2^nd place at the Colgan Forensics Tournament on Saturday, March 7. Southeast amassed 217 sweepstakes points, finishing behind Pittsburg High School with 238 sweepstakes points. Fort Scott High School rounded out the top three with 175 sweepstakes points.

Southeast started racking up individual awards on Friday night with top four finishes in both Public Forum Debate and Congressional Debate. Freshmen Alex Fleck and Robyn Nabors, competing in Public Forum Debate for the first time, finished in 4^th place. Seniors Jake Zortz and David Willis placed 3^rd and 4^th in Congress House A and Congress House B, respectively.

Returning on Saturday for the individual events portion of the tournament, Southeast had its second-most dominant team performance of the season. Thirteen of the team’s 28 entries posted strong scores in preliminary competition, earning a place in finals. When the results from finals were tabulated, Southeast had 7 top-three finishes and three new state qualifiers. Individual results are as follows: Ashleigh Fleck- 2^nd place, International Extemporaneous, Will Chrysler- 6^th place, International Extemporaneous and 1^st place, Impromptu, Ryley Slifka- 4^th place, International Extemporaneous, David Willis- 5^th place, United States Extemporaneous, Chandler Gravett- 5^th place, Informative, Aubrey Colvin- 3^rd place, Poetry and 1^st place, Dramatic Interpretation, Rachel Files- 4^th place, Poetry and 3^rd place Dramatic Interpretation, Dietrich Smith- 1^st place, Humorous Interpretation, Savana Bennett- 4^th place, Humorous Interpretation, and Hannah Files- 2^nd place, Dramatic Interpretation.

To be as successful as we were this weekend was very gratifying. To have three new state qualifiers was icing on the cake. But the season isn’t over yet. We still have several goals we’re trying to reach. Hopefully we can come back after spring break motivated to work hard and reach those goals. I’m already looking forward to seeing what this team has yet to accomplish.