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Blue Springs, MO —
Tyler Dailey could barely comprehend what he was hearing. Standing on stage at the National Forensics Association’s National Championship Tournament, his name was called as national champion in informative speaking.
“I don’t think I even realized what was going on,” said the 2009 graduate of Blue Springs High School, now a junior at Western Kentucky University. “I went into semifinals with three past national champions in that event. Two of them advanced with me to finals, so I had no expectations. The feeling was really great and exciting.”
Dailey was one of two Blue Springs High School alumni from Western Kentucky to place in the top 10 at the national tournament. Austin Groves, a 2011 graduate, was a semifinalist in dramatic interpretation, placing eighth. In addition to his national championship, Dailey placed second in duo interpretation and was a semifinalist in prose. He also made it to the quarterfinal rounds of after-dinner speaking, dramatic interpretation and poetry. His performance ranked him second overall in the competition. The Western Kentucky team, overall, also placed second.
“You wouldn’t believe how hard these students and coaches worked over the course of the season and especially in the past month,” said Jace Lux, director of forensics at Western Kentucky. “I think everyone was pulling seven-day work weeks in preparation for this tournament. We had a great season and second place in the nation is nothing to feel bad about.”
Informative speaking is a 10-minute speech that encompasses information about medical innovations, science or technology. Dailey’s piece was on a group of neuroscientists from Berkeley who have reconstructed video images based on people’s thoughts. He said unlike other forensics events, informative speaking is a more relaxed round because people are there to learn something and have fun.
“I have only been doing this since the end of my sophomore year. I really like it, so I decided to make it one of my regular events,” he said. “I really like the way the other competitors respond to the speeches. These are about new, modern advances, so it is very interesting. It is a great way to learn something totally new.”
This is not Dailey’s first experience in the national spotlight. In high school, he made three appearances to the national tournament. In his last year, he placed second in storytelling with an additional top 15 finish in humorous interpretation. When deciding to compete in forensics at the collegiate level, he said the choice was easy.
Tyler Dailey could barely comprehend what he was hearing. Standing on stage at the National Forensics Association’s National Championship Tournament, his name was called as national champion in informative speaking.
“I don’t think I even realized what was going on,” said the 2009 graduate of Blue Springs High School, now a junior at Western Kentucky University. “I went into semifinals with three past national champions in that event. Two of them advanced with me to finals, so I had no expectations. The feeling was really great and exciting.”
Dailey was one of two Blue Springs High School alumni from Western Kentucky to place in the top 10 at the national tournament. Austin Groves, a 2011 graduate, was a semifinalist in dramatic interpretation, placing eighth. In addition to his national championship, Dailey placed second in duo interpretation and was a semifinalist in prose. He also made it to the quarterfinal rounds of after-dinner speaking, dramatic interpretation and poetry. His performance ranked him second overall in the competition. The Western Kentucky team, overall, also placed second.
“You wouldn’t believe how hard these students and coaches worked over the course of the season and especially in the past month,” said Jace Lux, director of forensics at Western Kentucky. “I think everyone was pulling seven-day work weeks in preparation for this tournament. We had a great season and second place in the nation is nothing to feel bad about.”
Informative speaking is a 10-minute speech that encompasses information about medical innovations, science or technology. Dailey’s piece was on a group of neuroscientists from Berkeley who have reconstructed video images based on people’s thoughts. He said unlike other forensics events, informative speaking is a more relaxed round because people are there to learn something and have fun.
“I have only been doing this since the end of my sophomore year. I really like it, so I decided to make it one of my regular events,” he said. “I really like the way the other competitors respond to the speeches. These are about new, modern advances, so it is very interesting. It is a great way to learn something totally new.”
This is not Dailey’s first experience in the national spotlight. In high school, he made three appearances to the national tournament. In his last year, he placed second in storytelling with an additional top 15 finish in humorous interpretation. When deciding to compete in forensics at the collegiate level, he said the choice was easy.
“I always knew this was what I wanted to do,” said the double major in English and film. “It is harder than high school because there is a lot more time involved. You know that this is a group of dedicated and passionate individuals who give up almost every weekend to the activity. I also think there is more nuance involved in the performances. We really push ourselves with each one.”
Groves said he was happy to place in the top 10. He said for a freshman, the goal is to learn, not to place at such a high level in his first collegiate national tournament. The broadcasting major placed second in the same event in high school at the 2011 NFL National Speech and Debate Tournament.
“I was so excited, I just kept breaking [advancing to the next round] and couldn’t believe it,” he said. “This whole experience has been awesome. I have learned so much in my first year. I think the biggest difference for me from high school is that the competition is a lot harder. They are bigger and tougher, and many go to school for theater, so the performances are more intriguing and emotional.”
Dailey said the competitive drama season at the collegiate level is basically year-round with preparations beginning in the summer and the first tournament sometime in September. Only two weeks after this year’s final tournament, he said he is already choosing pieces for next year.
“I think what I have learned the most is that I need to pick something I am passionate about because it is a lot easier to have fun with that piece and to be honest with the audience,” Dailey said. “You really want to be able to connect with them because everyone will enjoy it more.”
Dailey, who is expected to graduate from Western Kentucky next year, has already started thinking about his post-college plans. He wants to go to graduate school, perhaps in California, where he can pursue acting. If that does not work out, he said, he would also like to be a college professor.
“I think I would really like that, to teach in college,” Dailey said. “My goal next year is to have the best year possible. I want to make sure I go out on a positive note, knowing that I did everything I could to the best of my ability. I know the whole team is going to work harder than we have ever done before in our life. I just can’t go into the year thinking about how nationals could play out.”
