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McKendree Speech and Debate Wins at Home and UCM Tournaments

(LEBANON, Ill., October 30, 2018) — The McKendree University Speech and Debate Team turned in excellent performances last weekend at its home debate tournament and the University of Central Missouri’s speech tournament. Highlights include:

  • Mitch Deleel and Adeja Powell won both the Bearcat Classic and the Hunsaker Invitational. That is three consecutive tournament wins and extends their unbeaten streak to 24 consecutive debates. They are also qualified for the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence (NPTE) and are currently ranked third in the nation by the NPTE.

  • Lyndellia Mannie, Aliyah Smith and Andrew Wagner each qualified for the American Forensic Association National Individual Events Tournament. Mannie is qualified in poetry, while Smith and Wagner are qualified in drama and communication analysis, respectively. Smith and Wagner qualified in duo as well.

  • McKendree students took home 39 awards, including 12 first place finishes.


“The full squad had an incredible weekend,” said Joe Blasdel, coach. “Not only did our senior students turn in dominant performances, but our first-year students showed a great deal of promise with their successes as well.”

Seven colleges and universities, including the University of Minnesota, the University of Illinois and William Jewell College, attended McKendree’s debate swing on Oct. 19-21. Representing McKendree were senior Adeja Powell; junior Haylee Christ; sophomores Mitch Deleel, Chandler Flesch, Caden Owens and Rebecca Postula; and first-years Scott Anderson, Brian Duvendack, Kyle Garrett and Isabella Strimling.

At the first half, the team of Deleel and Powell posted a perfect 5-0 record. After defeating Arkansas State in quarterfinals and the University of Minnesota in semifinals, they triumphed over William Jewell in finals to win the Bearcat Classic. Owens and Postula went 4-1 in prelims, finishing as quarterfinalists. The teams of Anderson and Strimling, as well as Duvendack and Garrett, closed out the rookie final.

At the second half, Deleel and Powell again went undefeated in prelims. After besting Appalachian State in quarterfinals and the University of Illinois in semifinals, they again defeated William Jewell in finals to win the Hunsaker Invitational. Owens and Postula advanced for the third consecutive tournament, with a 3-2 record. They finished as quarterfinalists after defeating Appalachian State in octofinals. Powell was recognized as the top speaker for the weekend as well as at each tournament—giving her three consecutive top speaker awards. Additionally, Deleel was the fourth place speaker for the swing, while Garrett was the top rookie speaker.

Twenty-one colleges and universities, including the University of Oklahoma, the University of Nebraska and Simpson College, attended the University of Central Missouri’s tournament on Oct. 20-21. Representing McKendree were seniors Aliyah Smith and Andrew Wagner; juniors Kate Maag, Lyndellia Mannie and Isa Scaturro; and first-years Kelsey Fowler, Taylor Roth and Kat Smith.

At the first half, Wagner won first place in both extemporaneous speaking and communication analysis, as well as second in impromptu. Additionally, Mannie took first place in poetry, while Smith and Wagner placed second in duo. Smith finished third in two more events—programmed oral interpretation and drama. Scaturro placed second in after-dinner speaking and fifth in informative speaking, while Roth got her first college break with a fourth place finish and top novice in poetry. Maag received fifth place in programmed oral interpretation, as well as sixth place in prose. Wagner was recognized as third place in individual sweepstakes, while McKendree placed second in individual event sweepstakes.

At the second half, Mannie took top honors again in poetry—her third consecutive win in the event. Scaturro also brought home a first place finish in informative speaking. Wagner won first place in communication analysis, while also finishing third in prose, fourth in informative speaking, and sixth in extemporaneous speaking. Smith and Wagner won first place in duo, while Smith also took second place in both programmed oral interpretation and drama. Smith got her first college breaks with a third place finish and top novice in programmed oral interpretation and fifth place in prose. Fann got her first college break with a fifth place in poetry, while Fann and Smith finished fifth in duo. Roth reached finals in poetry, taking fourth place. Wagner was again recognized for his third place finish in individual sweepstakes. McKendree took second place in individual sweepstakes at the second half, as well as for the swing.

McKendree will compete next at Bradley University’s L.E. Norton Memorial Speech Tournament on Nov. 3-4.

 

Competing for the award-winning McKendree University speech and debate team are, front row: Mitch Deleel, Andrew Wagner, Adeja Powell, Aliyah Smith, Taylor Roth, Rebecca Postula, Caden Owens, Haylee Christ and Rachael Hooven; back row, Isa Scaturro, Chandler Flesch, Kyle Garrett, Justin Fausz, Scott Anderson, Isabella Strimling, Lyndellia Mannie and Kelsey Fann.

Competing for the award-winning McKendree University speech and debate team are, front row: Mitch Deleel, Andrew Wagner, Adeja Powell, Aliyah Smith, Taylor Roth, Rebecca Postula, Caden Owens, Haylee Christ and Rachael Hooven; back row, Isa Scaturro, Chandler Flesch, Kyle Garrett, Justin Fausz, Scott Anderson, Isabella Strimling, Lyndellia Mannie and Kelsey Fann.

 

-McK-