IOC History
The Interstate Oratory Contest Legacy; a list of all the participants of IOC since the Forensics Program's inception in 1944. The names on the left are from Grace Walsh's time, while the names on the right are the participants up through the current year of competition. This display can be seen in Hibbard Hall at the University on the first floor, near the Communication/Journalism offices.
The University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire's Forensics Team has a long and thrilling foundation of nationally ranked orators representing at the national Interstate Oratory Contest. The tournament is a national tournament exclusive to Persuasion. Each state sends two representatives to compete. The representatives are determined at the annual State Tournament held every year in February.
As you can see above, the UW-Eau Claire's Forensics team sends individuals almost every single year to compete. The team has sent many individuals who have returned with national championship titles, the most recent being Patrick Martin, in 2011.
The following are a list of the UW-Eau Claire's national Orators:
1948 - Robert J. Couture - 3rd Place
1950 - Margine Frye
1950 - Clarence Imislund - Finalist
1951 - Flavienne Hanson
1951 - Cletus Howard
1953 - George Gerner - 3rd Place
1953 - Joan Reidy - National Champion
1955 - Ralph Zimmermann - National Champion
1956 - Jacelyn Gilbertson - National Champion
1958 - Kathie Kidd
1961 - Richard Duesterbeck - National Champion
1964 - Kathy Hays
1966 - Sandy Siebert - Finalist
1969 - Lynn Gruentzel - 3rd Place
1971 - John W. Walsh - Finalists
1972 - John E. Walsh - 3rd Place
1973 - Caroline Welch
1975 - Michael J. Rindo
1976 - Michael J. Rindo - 2nd Place
1976 - John P. Rindo - National Champion
1977 - Rick Hudson
1977 - Ruth Brenner
1978 - Rick Hudson
1978 - Ruth Brenner - National Champion
1980 - J. Thomas Christy - Finalist
1981 - J. Thomas Christy
1981 - Colleen Keough
1982 - Tracy Anderson - 4th Place
1982 - Rovert Boisyert Jr. - 6th Place
1983 - Beth Moberg
1984 - Beth Moberg - 2nd Place
1984 - Sharyn Kolstad - 6th Place
1985 - Beth Moberg - 4th Place
1986 - Michael Stolts - 6th Place
1987 - Michael Stolts - 6th Place
1988 - Sharyn Kolstad - 2nd Place
1989 - Alan Jalwitz - 6th Place
1991 - Raula Dunkow
1991 - Amy Sjolander
1993 - Shawn Harris
1994 - Amy Sjolander
1994 - Cindy Weisenbeck
1995 - Eileen Dintelman
1995 - Shawn Harris
1996 - Shawn Harris - 6th Place
1996 - Jenny Reel
1997 - Libby Haight - 5th Place
1997 - Jennifer Sunstrom
1998 - Holly Pyrek
1998 - Jodi Becker
1999 - Kate Grosskopk
1999 - Jodi Becker
2000 - Jodi Becker
2000 - Arwen Williams
2001 - Jodi Becker
2001 - Aaron Unseth - National Champion
2002 - Adam Collidge
2002 - Ben Schneider
2003 - Kelly Bender
2003 - Ben Schneider - 5th Place
2004 - Kelly Bender - 2nd Place
2004 - Andy Bevernitz - 5th Place
2005 - Kelly Bender - 2nd Place
2006 - Christine Zani
2006 - Betsy Schroder
2007 - Christine Zani - 2nd Place
2007 - Julie Germain
2008 - Eric Plantenberg - 6th Place
2009 - Eric Plantenberg
2009 - Emily Schreiner
2010 - Nick Miller - National Champion
2011 - Patrick Martin - National Champion
2012 - Holly Albers
