The 2011-12 season marks one of the most spectacular in the entire history of the program. The team shattered its previous record for students advanced to the championship rounds, with 62 entries ranked in the top 24 nationally, spread across every competitive category. The previous team high was 45. The team placed 2nd overall at the American Forensic Association tournament, narrowly edging perennial champion Western Kentucky but falling short of eventual champion Bradley University-- despite the single best performance by a UT team ever. The team also placed 3rd at the National Forensic Association tournament with a slightly reduced squad.
Some highlights of the year included the selection of
All-American Christy Liu, UT's 11th All-American. All-Americans are selected on the basis of academic
performance, competitive success, and community service. Liu was also ranked 8th
overall speaker nationally by the American Forensic Association, and 12th
overall speaker by the National Forensic Association.
In Extemporaneous Speaking, senior Christy Liu won the American Forensic Association National Championship, and in Persuasive Speaking, senior William Igbokwe won both the American and National Forensic Association National Championships!
A total of FOUR UT students were ranked in the top six
nationally in Extemporaneous Speaking, including Seniors David Wang and Christy
Liu and Juniors Rahul Sangal and Daniel Hatoum. Three different students placed
in the top 6 in Persuasion, with William Igbokwe winning both national titles
and Kyle Akerman placing 3rd at AFA and Nathan Rarick placing 6th at the
Interstate Oratorical contest in Boston. Rahul Sangal missed the national
championship in Impromptu Speaking by 1 rank, placing second. William Igbokwe
placed 5th in After Dinner Speaking, Melissa Lamb placed 6th in Prose Interpretation,
Kyle Akerman placed 6th in Informative Speaking, and Christy Liu placed 3rd in
Rhetorical Criticism.
In summary UT students advanced 19 entries to the top 12
nationally, and another 29 to the top 24-- both new team records.
A huge thanks to team assistant directors Leah Lefevbre and
Brandon Anderson for their incredible work throughout the year, as well as to
alumni volunteer coaches Nance Riffe, Bryan Gray, Aviva Pinchas, Mary Kate
Raffetto, Brendan Chan, Bryan Gray, Casey Garcia and Chris Mendez for making
this a spectacular year, and to team captains Kyle Akerman and Christy Liu for
their leadership of the team, as well as to the entire staff of the Dept. of
Communication Studies, most especially Jennifer Betancourt, Deanna Matthews,
and Chair Barry Brummett.
