“Winning’s not important; being with everyone was.”

That is what junior Kerri Simons, Spanish language and literature major, said following her victory at the Illinois Intercollegiate Forensics (IIFA) state tournament this past weekend in East Peoria.

Simons was named state champion in the persuasive speaking category. NIU had two other state finalists, senior Chase Budziak and junior Mariam Afzal, of the 10 varsity members sent to the tournament.

“This was our first tournament back since the tragedy at NIU,” said director of individual events Judy Santacaterina. “We were going to go in there and do our best like we always do.”

Santacaterina and Simons both expressed the outpouring of support from their fellow coaches, competitors and judges.

The hosts, Illinois Central College (ICC), made enough ribbons for every person involved in the tournament.

“It was such a nice sign of support,” Santacaterina said.

Simons was unsure of how well she was going to do heading into the performance.

“I was a little nervous,” Simons said. “We haven’t done as much because of the tragedy.”

ICC and the IIFA were able to come up with $500 in donations, which will be matched by personal donators to be sent to the Feb. 14 Memorial Fund set up by NIU.

Simons, along with the second place speaker in her division, will represent the state and travel to Madison, Wis. in late April to compete in the Interstate Oratory Contest. The contest began in 1894 and is one of the oldest in the area.

Novice competitors will be in St. Louis this weekend for a competition hosted by Webster University. Simons, Afzal, Budziak and senior Brittany Samson will travel to the University of Texas at Austin later this month for the American Forensics National Tournament.

“I couldn’t be more proud of all our forensics students,” Santacaterina said. “I’m just so very grateful and overwhelmed by the support of the forensics community, and in particular the NIU alums who have always been so supportive.”