Speech & Debate Team Finishes Fall Season with 23 Awards

(LEBANON, Ill., December 8, 2021) – The McKendree University speech and debate team concluded its fall season with outstanding performances at three tournaments, receiving 23 awards in total.

“This fall has been very difficult, but I’m very proud of how our students and coaches have persevered,” said Joe Blasdel, director of speech and debate. “Despite the circumstances, several of our students turned in the best performances of their careers.”

McKendree participated in Bradley University’s L.E. Norton Invitational on November 6-7 – the most competitive regular season speech tournament of the year. Jayden Touchette finished as a semifinalist in programmed oral interpretation, while Rayn Nauert took second place in novice poetry.

McKendree hosted the Bearcat Classic, a virtual debate tournament, on November 13-14. Jamari Jackson and Noah Marlar posted a perfect record of 5-0 and advanced to semi-finals, defeating Hillsdale College in the quarter-finals. Kyle Smith and Jayden Touchette went 4-1 and also finished as semifinalists. Jackson was recognized as the second place speaker at the tournament.

On December 4-5, McKendree participated in the Study Break and Gateway Swing tournament, hosted by Webster University, which included a debate competition as well as two speech competitions. At the debate competition, Aaron Brown and Emma McIlhargie were recognized as the sixth place debate team and received the fifth and third place speaker awards, respectively. Nik Fischer also received a Top Critic Award.

At the first speech competition, Jayden Touchette won first place in three events – extemporaneous speaking, impromptu speaking and programmed oral interpretation – while finishing second place in prose. Taylor Roth also advanced in extemporaneous speaking, taking third place.

At the second speech competition, Touchette also won first place in three events – extemporaneous speaking, programmed oral interpretation and prose – while taking second place in impromptu speaking. Taylor Roth advanced in both of her events, receiving fourth place in both extemporaneous speaking and impromptu speaking. Finally, Madeline Trinity finished sixth place in prose. As a school, McKendree was recognized as the third place school on Sunday as well as the third place school over the weekend of competition.

The McKendree University speech and debate team will kick off its spring competition by attending the Texas Two Step, hosted by the University of Texas at Tyler, on January 6-9.

 

-McK-

 

Jamari Jackson and Noah Marlar

 

Jayden Touchette, Rayn Nauert, Taylor Roth

 

Taylor Roth, Aaron Brown, Emma McIlhargie, Madeline Trinity, Jayden Touchette

 

Naya Busbea, Jayden Touchette, Madeline Trinity, Taylor Roth, Rebecca Postula