Forensics qualifies entire team for nationals

The Hastings College forensics team at the Doane tournament included (front, l to r) Avery Usher, Yeira Ramirez, Ally Goad and Hailey Gifford; and (back, l to r) Abby Klatt, Meg Dedic, Madi Holman and El Waldon. Not pictured: Brooke Brockman.

(Hastings, Nebraska) – The Hastings College Forensics team is heading into the spring season with significant momentum. By the end of the fall semester, all nine team members successfully qualified for the national tournament, securing qualifications in 16 different events. 

"This team has worked hard to get all nine members qualified for nationals by the end of the fall semester," said Dr. Austin McDonald, Hastings College Forensics coach. "Qualifying 16 slots early on gives us a great foundation. We'll use the spring season to sharpen our performances and add more events to the list before we head to Portland in April."

The AFA National Speech Tournament is April 4-6, 2026, at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon.

The team continued its competition season on January 24 at the "Clash of the Climates" tournament hosted by Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska. Three students competed in the event, further refining their performances for the national stage.

This follows a successful showing on December 6, 2025, at Doane University’s “The Final Stage” tournament in Crete, Nebraska, where they won the team sweepstakes. 

The next day,  December 7, members competed at the American Forensics Association (AFA) District Four Fall Qualifier. These successes ensure the entire roster will represent Hastings College at the highest level this spring.

Below are students who have qualified for nationals and their events to date:
-Abby Klatt, a sophomore from Hastings, Nebraska, qualified persuasive speaking. 
-Ally Goad, a junior from Gothenburg, Nebraska, qualified program oral interpretation.
-Avery Usher, a sophomore from Lincoln, Nebraska, qualified extemporaneous speaking and poetry interpretation.
-Brooke Brockman, a senior from Elwood, Nebraska, qualified persuasive speaking.
-Hailey Gifford, a junior from Eagle, Colorado, qualified communication analysis, extemporaneous speaking and impromptu speaking.
-Madi Holman, a first-year from Franklin, Nebraska, qualified duo interpretation.
-Meg Dedic, a junior from Auburn, Nebraska, qualified after dinner speaking, duo interpretation and dramatic interpretation.
-Morgan Ashcraft, a junior from Limon, Colorado, qualified dramatic interpretation, impromptu speaking and program oral interpretation.
-Yeira Ramirez, a first-year from Stromsburg, Nebraska, qualified persuasive speaking and poetry interpretation.