McKendree Speech and Debate Welcomes 10 New Competitors

Largest Team in University History

(LEBANON, Ill., rev. August 29, 2016) - The McKendree University speech and debate team looks to be larger this year, as well as improve on its success from 2015-2016.

“We will have the biggest team in the history with approximately 23 students – including eight incoming students,” said Joe Blasdel, coach. “Additionally, we are returning most of last year’s team – including eight students who qualified for their respective nationals.”

New members include Grace Alexander (Harrisburg, Ill.), Andrew Dori (Althoff/Belleville, Ill.), Emily Harper (Nashville, Ill.), Kate Maag (Jerseyville, Ill.), Virginia Parkinson (Carbondale, Ill.), Brad Riedemann (Greenville, Ill.), Isa Scaturro (Granite City, Ill.) and Tyler Timmons (Granite City, Ill.).

Returning members include seniors Dylan Comer (Carrier Mills, Ill.), Katie Reining (Heyworth, Ill.) and Taylor Rossi (Petersburg, Ill.); juniors Alex Baldwin (Heyworth, Ill.), Beth Graham (Normal, Ill.), Matthew Hendricks (Chicago, Ill.), Kaitlyn Hutchinson (Harrisburg, Ill.), Adam Kaul (St. Louis, Mo.), Gage Simmons (Nashville, Ill.) and Noelle Zickefoose (Coal City, Ill.); and sophomores Justin Fausz (Valmeyer, Ill.), Adeja Powell (Belleville East/Belleville, Ill.), Aliyah Smith (Belleville West/Belleville, Ill.), Andrew Wagner (Waterloo, Ill.) and Emma Webster (Benton, Ill.).

Meet several of the team’s newest members:

 

Andrew Dori and Candace Dori, seated; Mike Dori, standing.

 

Brad Riedemann

 

Eric Scott, Emma Scott and Holly Scott, seated, are joined by Mascoutah High School Principal Sandy Jouglard, McKendree Coach Joe Blasdel.

 

Grace Alexander is joined by Coach Tina Mondino, McKendree Coach Stephen Hagan, Jerry Alexander, Scott Dwyer and Lisa Alexander.

 

McKendree Coach Stephen Hagan, Isa Scaturro and Coach Amy McQuiggan, front row; Marta Scaturro and Tom Scaturro, back row.

 

Ramon Maag, Katie Maag, McKendree Coach Stephen Hagan and Patti Maag.

 

Tyler Timmons

 

Virginia Parkinson

 

-McK-

 

McKendree University is a College of Distinction, and a Chronicle of Higher Education “Great College to Work For” Honor Roll institution. Founded in 1828, the historic Lebanon, Ill., campus is 25 miles from downtown St. Louis. McKendree also has campuses in Radcliff and Shepherdsville, Ky., and offers programs at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. www.mckendree.edu