McKendree Speech & Debate Opens Spring with Strong Performances

(LEBANON, Ill., February 10, 2017) — The McKendree University speech and debate team opened its spring semester with two solid performances, winning 39 awards and qualifying five more events for nationals. Katie Reining is now qualified in communication analysis and duo with Emma Webster, while Webster is also qualified in drama. Additionally, Andrew Wagner is qualified in impromptu speaking, while Taylor Rossi is qualified in after dinner speaking.

Forty-three colleges and universities, including the University of Alabama, Boise State University and St. Anselm’s College, attended Webster University’s Gorlok Gala on Jan. 27-29. Representing McKendree were seniors Dylan Comer, Katie Reining and Taylor Rossi; juniors Brett Hanna and Kaitlyn Hutchison; sophomores Justin Fausz, Andrew Wagner and Emma Webster; and first-years Grace Alexander, Kate Maag, Virginia Parkinson, Brad Riedemann, Isa Scaturro and Tyler Timmons.

Reining won tournament championships in two events: persuasion and communication analysis. She also took second place in duo, along with Webster, and placed second in individual sweepstakes. In addition to duo, Webster reached semifinals in drama and received an excellent award in prose. Wagner took second place in impromptu speaking, while Alexander reached semifinals in both extemporaneous speaking and impromptu speaking. Rossi was a semifinalist in persuasion while receiving excellent awards in both after dinner speaking and impromptu speaking. Finally, Comer received an excellent award in programmed oral interpretation.

In novice Lincoln-Douglas debate, Brad Riedemann reached quarterfinals and was the first place speaker in the division. Virginia Parkinson and Tyler Timmons both had even records, just missing the break to quarterfinals.

Nine colleges and universities, including Bradley University and Western Kentucky University, attended the University of Illinois’s Illini All-Stars Swing on Feb. 4-5. Representing McKendree were seniors Dylan Comer, Katie Reining and Taylor Rossi; sophomores Andrew Wagner and Emma Webster; and first-years Grace Alexander, Kate Maag and Isa Scaturro.

At the first half, Wagner placed second and third in impromptu speaking and extemporaneous speaking, respectively, while taking fourth in individual sweepstakes. Alexander placed third in prose and fourth in impromptu speaking. Comer and Webster each had third place finishes in programmed oral interpretation and drama, respectively. Finally, Rossi placed fifth in informative speaking, while Maag was the top novice in programmed oral interpretation. McKendree took fourth in team sweepstakes.

At the second half, Rossi took third in after dinner speaking, fourth in informative speaking and fourth in persuasion, winning first place in individual sweepstakes. Webster won first place in drama and fifth place in prose. Comer took fourth place in programmed oral interpretation and sixth place in prose. Maag placed fifth in programmed oral interpretation and received third place in individual sweepstakes. Reining took fifth place in informative speaking, while Scaturro took fifth place in drama. Finally, Wagner placed sixth in extemporaneous speaking. McKendree again finished fourth in team sweepstakes.

McKendree will compete at the University of Missouri on Feb. 11-12.

 

Front row, Kate Maag; back row, Andrew Wagner, Isa Scaturro,
Katie Reining, Taylor Rossi, Dylan Comer, Emma Webster.

 

-McK-