Quincey Smith (left), who finished first in communication analysis at the 2011 American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament, looks on as Angelika Albaladejo practices for an event.

The George Mason Forensics Team finished fourth at the 2011 American Forensic Association National Individual Events Tournament at the University of Nebraska. The contest ran from April 2–4.

Though the team was announced as the third-place finisher, it was revealed that the team finished fourth Thursday due to a tabulation error, behind the University of Texas at Austin, Bradley University and Western Kentucky University.

All 32 members of the Mason Forensics Team were able to attend the event.

Senior communication major and Forensics Team co-captain Quincey Smith finished first in National Communication Analysis and finished fourth in Persuasive Speaking and Informative Speaking. Smith also finished as a quarterfinalist in the poetry category.

“To be named the champion was pretty surreal,” Smith said. “It was a very humbling experience.The other competitors were really great, and it was an honor to be in that round to begin with.”

“It was an amazing weekend,” said Nick Cox, a junior health science major and the other co-captain of the Forensics Team.

“I was so proud to be a part of George Mason’s team. We really are a team that is committed to having all of our members succeed.”

This is Cox’s third national competition. Cox was a semifinalist in poetry.

“This was the competition that had the most tears of joy,” Cox said. “Everyone was happy and in such a good spirit. It was the family experience that this was supposed to be.”

Brennan Morris finished second and Jacob Abraham finished fifth in Extemporaneous Speaking.Abraham also finished 10th in Communication Analysis.

Mason national semifinalists were Will Bellows in Impromptu Speaking, Regan Fallon in Prose Interpretation.