History
The McKendree University speech and debate team was re-established in 1995 by Dr.
Richard Hunsaker, who had previously served as debate coach at Belleville West High
School for over thirty years. The speech and debate team enjoyed a great deal of success
under the leadership of Dr. Hunsaker, until his retirement in 2003. In 2003, Joe Blasdel,
McKendree alumnus and former team member, succeeded Dr. Hunsaker as coach of speech
and debate at McKendree.
Over the past twenty-eight years, McKendree has had a great deal of competitve success.
Below, some of the more impressive accomplishments are noted.
McKendree has won twenty-seven Pi Kappa Delta national championships:
• 1999, Adam Jenkins in prose interpretation
• 2000, Mike Artime and Morgan Hudson in novice parliamentary debate
• 2003, John Dawson and Sara Trask in novice parliamentary debate
• 2004, Sarah Haefner and Mark Wonnacott in junior parliamentary debate
• 2004, Sarah Haefner in junior parliamentary debate speaking
• 2006, Sarah Haefner in public debate
• 2006, Jeff Jones in junior Lincoln-Douglas debate
• 2006, McKendree University in debate sweepstakes
• 2007, Samantha Leonard in junior Lincoln-Douglas debate
• 2007, Erin Conner in impromptu speaking
• 2007, Erin Conner on All-American team
• 2007, McKendree University in debate sweepstakes
• 2008, Steve Loftus and Courtney Logan in varsity parliamentary debate
• 2008, Cory Freivogel in varsity Lincoln-Douglas debate
• 2008, Josie Wiegel in junior Lincoln-Douglas debate speaking
• 2008, Erin Conner in public debate
• 2008, Samantha Leonard in public debate speaking
• 2008, Erin Conner in impromptu speaking
• 2008, Erin Conner in individual sweepstakes
• 2008, McKendree University in debate sweepstakes
• 2012, Lance Allen in extemporaneous speaking
• 2015, Spencer Marcum in poetry interpretation
• 2015, Noelle Zickefoose in after dinner speaking
• 2015, Spencer Marcum on All-American team
• 2018, Rebecca Postula in novice Lincoln-Douglas debate
• 2022, Jayden Touchette in extemporaneous speaking
• 2022, Aaron Brown and Emma McIlhargie in novice parliamentary debate
McKendree has had thirty-three teams advance to final rounds at the National Parliamentary Debate Association Championship Tournament:
• 1998, Joe Blasdel and B.J. Yurcisin, triple octofinals
• 1998, Adam Jenkins and Chad Kaffer, double octofinals
• 1999, Adam Jenkins and Chad Kaffer, double octofinals
• 2000, Ryan Anderson and Chad Kaffer, triple octofinals
• 2004, Sarah Haefner and Mark Wonnacott, quad octofinals
• 2006, Josh Johnson and Jeff Jones, quad octofinals
• 2007, Ashley Dunning and Mark Wonnacott, quad octofinals
• 2007, Cory Freivogel and Samantha Leonard, triple octofinals
• 2008, Cory Freivogel and Samantha Leonard, double octofinals
• 2009, Cory Freivogel and Samantha Leonard, octofinals
• 2009, Whitney Baillie and Josie Wiegel, double octofinals
• 2010, Cory Freivogel and Ian Reynolds, octofinals
• 2011, Jeff Jones and Ian Reynolds, quarterfinals
• 2011, Mat Myles and Ben Reid, double octofinals
• 2012, Brent Nicholson and Ben Reid, octofinals
• 2012, Lucas Barker and Mat Myles, double octofinals
• 2012, Ian Reynolds and Brad Thomas, double octofinals
• 2013, Ben Reid and Ian Reynolds, 2nd Place
• 2013, Mat Myles and Brad Thomas, octofinals
• 2013, Sarah DeBruyckere and Brent Nicholson, double octofinals
• 2013, Lucas Barker and Alex Cunningham, triple octofinals
• 2014, Sarah DeBruyckere and Phil Kraft, quarterfinals
• 2014, Brent Nicholson and Brad Thomas, double octofinals
• 2016, Alex Baldwin and Gage Simmons, double octofinals
• 2018, Alex Baldwin and Gage Simmons, triple octofinals
• 2019, Mitch Deleel and Adeja Powell, octofinals
• 2020, Mitch Deleel and Adeja Powell, 1st Place
• 2020, Kyle Garrett and Kyle Smith, octofinals
• 2021, Mitch Deleel and Kyle Garrett, quarterfinals
• 2021, Rebecca Postula and Kyle Smith, octofinals
• 2022, Aaron Brown and Emma McIlhargie, 2nd Place novice
• 2022, Kyle Garrett and Kyle Smith, octofinals
• 2022, Jamari Jackson and Jayden Touchette, double octofinals
McKendree has had thirty-one teams finish in the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence Top Fifty:
• 2004-2005, Sarah Haefner and Mark Wonnacott, 40th place
• 2005-2006, Steve Loftus and Paul Woodruff, 46th place
• 2006-2007, Cory Freivogel and Samantha Leonard, 34th place
• 2007-2008, Cory Freivogel and Samantha Leonard, 23rd place
• 2008-2009, Cory Freivogel and Samantha Leonard, 19th place
• 2009-2010, Cory Freivogel and Ian Reynolds, 11th place
• 2010-2011, Jeff Jones and Ian Reynolds, 1st place
• 2010-2011, Brent Nicholson and Brad Thomas, 28th place
• 2010-2011, Mat Myles and Ben Reid, 36th place
• 2010-2011, Amanda Ataiyan and Whitney Baillie, 50th place
• 2011-2012, Brent Nicholson and Ben Reid, 6th place
• 2011-2012, Ian Reynolds and Brad Thomas, 16th place
• 2011-2012, Lucas Barker and Mat Myles, 46th place
• 2012-2013, Mat Myles and Brad Thomas, 5th place
• 2012-2013, Ben Reid and Ian Reynolds, 8th place
• 2012-2013, Lucas Barker and Sarah DeBruyckere, 29th place
• 2012-2013, Alex Cunningham and Brent Nicholson, 37th place
• 2013-2014, Brent Nicholson and Brad Thomas, 17th place
• 2016-2017, Alex Baldwin and Gage Simmons, 18th place
• 2016-2017, Beth Graham and Adeja Powell, 44th place
• 2017-2018, Alex Baldwin and Gage Simmons, 10th place
• 2018-2019, Mitch Deleel and Adeja Powell, 4th place
• 2018-2019, Caden Owens and Rebecca Postula, 43rd place
• 2019-2020, Mitch Deleel and Adeja Powell, 3rd place
• 2019-2020, Kyle Garrett and Kyle Smith, 24th place
• 2019-2020, Caden Owens and Rebecca Postula, 32nd place
• 2020-2021, Mitch Deleel and Kyle Garrett, 10th place
• 2020-2021, Rebecca Postula and Kyle Smith, 12th place
• 2021-2022, Kyle Garrett and Kyle Smith, 17th place
• 2021-2022, Kyle Smith and Jayden Touchette, 18th place
• 2021-2022, Jamari Jackson and Noah Marlar, 29th place
McKendree has had thirty-five teams attend the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence:
• 2006-2007, Cory Freivogel and Samantha Leonard, 17th place
• 2006-2007, Steve Loftus and Mark Wonnacott
• 2007-2008, Cory Freivogel and Samantha Leonard, 4th place
• 2007-2008, Steve Loftus and Courtney Logan, 22nd place
• 2008-2009, Cory Freivogel and Samantha Leonard, 9th place
• 2008-2009, Whitney Baillie and Josie Wiegel
• 2009-2010, Cory Freivogel and Ian Reynolds, 16th place
• 2010-2011, Jeff Jones and Ian Reynolds, 5th place
• 2010-2011, Brent Nicholson and Brad Thomas, 23rd place
• 2010-2011, Mat Myles and Ben Reid, 22nd place
• 2010-2011, Amanda Ataiyan and Whitney Baillie
• 2011-2012, Brent Nicholson and Ben Reid, 27th place
• 2011-2012, Ian Reynolds and Brad Thomas, 28th place
• 2011-2012, Alex Cunningham and Zak Kilhoffer
• 2011-2012, Lucas Barker and Mat Myles
• 2012-2013, Ben Reid and Ian Reynolds, 3rd place
• 2012-2013, Mat Myles and Brad Thomas, 15th place
• 2012-2013, Sarah DeBruyckere and Brent Nicholson, 28th place
• 2012-2013, Lucas Barker and Alex Cunningham
• 2013-2014, Brent Nicholson and Brad Thomas, 10th place
• 2014-2015, Mary Makarishcheva and Rodney McBride
• 2014-2015, Alex Baldwin and Gage Simmons
• 2015-2016, Alex Baldwin and Gage Simmons
• 2016-2017, Alex Baldwin and Gage Simmons, 25th place
• 2016-2017, Beth Graham and Adeja Powell, 27th place
• 2017-2018, Mitch Deleel and Adeja Powell, 9th place
• 2017-2018, Alex Baldwin and Gage Simmons, 24th place
• 2017-2018, Beth Graham and Aaron Mattoon
• 2018-2019, Mitch Deleel and Adeja Powell, 12th place
• 2019-2020, Mitch Deleel and Adeja Powell, 10th place
• 2019-2020, Caden Owens and Rebecca Postula, 16th place
• 2019-2020, Kyle Garrett and Kyle Smith, 9th place
• 2020-2021, Mitch Deleel and Kyle Garrett, 2nd place
• 2020-2021, Rebecca Postula and Kyle Smith, 8th place
• 2021-2022, Kyle Smith and Jayden Touchette, 9th place
McKendree has had fifty-two events qualify for the American Forensic Association national individual events tournament:
• 1997, Adam Jenkins in prose
• 1997, Adam Jenkins in poetry
• 1997, Adam Jenkins in drama
• 2006, Erin Conner in prose
• 2006, Erin Conner in persuasion
• 2006, Erin Conner in informative speaking
• 2006, Erin Conner in communication analysis
• 2007, Erin Conner in extemporaneous speaking
• 2007, Erin Conner in impromptu speaking, semifinals
• 2007, Erin Conner in persuasion
• 2007, Erin Conner in informative speaking
• 2007, Erin Conner in communication analysis
• 2008, Erin Conner in extemporaneous speaking, semifinals
• 2008, Erin Conner in impromptu speaking, semifinals
• 2008, Erin Conner in persuasion, quarterfinals
• 2008, Erin Conner in informative speaking
• 2008, Erin Conner in communication analysis, finals (6th place)
• 2008, Erin Conner in individual sweepstakes (20th place)
• 2008, Erin Conner on All-American team
• 2008, Courtney Logan in persuasion
• 2013, Lance Allen in extemporaneous speaking
• 2013, Spencer Marcum in programmed oral interpretation
• 2013, Spencer Marcum in poetry
• 2014, Rebecca Blake and Josh Fleming in duo interpretation
• 2014, Josh Fleming in programmed oral interpretation
• 2014, Spencer Marcum in programmed oral interpretation
• 2014, Spencer Marcum in prose interpretation
• 2014, Spencer Marcum in dramatic interpretation
• 2014, Spencer Marcum in poetry interpretation
• 2015, Spencer Marcum in poetry interpretation
• 2015, Rebecca Blake and Spencer Marcum in duo interpretation
• 2015, Josh Fleming in programmed oral interpretation
• 2015, Josh Fleming in dramatic interpretation
• 2015, Spencer Marcum in programmed oral interpretation
• 2015, Spencer Marcum in prose interpretation
• 2015, Spencer Marcum in dramatic interpretation
• 2016, Katie Reining in after dinner speaking
• 2016, Katie Reining in communication analysis
• 2016, Noelle Zickefoose in poetry
• 2016, Noelle Zickefoose in programmed oral interpretation
• 2016, Noelle Zickefoose in after dinner speaking
• 2016, Taylor Rossi in informative speaking
• 2016, Katie Reining in persuasive speaking
• 2017, Dylan Comer & Emma Webster in duo interpretation
• 2017, Katie Reining in communication analysis
• 2017, Katie Reining in after dinner speaking
• 2017, Katie Reining & Emma Webster in duo interpretation
• 2017, Dylan Comer & Emma Webster in duo interpretation
• 2017, Andrew Wagner in informative speaking
• 2017, Andrew Wagner in extemporaneous speaking
• 2017, Andrew Wagner in impromptu speaking
• 2017, Taylor Rossi in after dinner speaking
• 2017, Emma Webster in dramatic interpretation
• 2017, Emma Webster in prose interpretation
McKendree has had seventeen events advance to elimination rounds at the National Forensic Association national tournament:
• 2006, Jeff Jones in Lincoln-Douglas debate, octofinals
• 2007, Erin Conner in extemporaneous speaking, semifinals
• 2007, Erin Conner in impromptu speaking, quarterfinals
• 2007, Erin Conner in informative speaking, quarterfinals
• 2007, Erin Conner in communication analysis, quarterfinals
• 2007, Cory Freivogel in Lincoln-Douglas debate, octofinals
• 2007, Mark Wonnacott in Lincoln-Douglas debate, octofinals
• 2008, Erin Conner in extemporaneous speaking, semifinals
• 2008, Erin Conner in impromptu speaking, quarterfinals
• 2008, Erin Conner in informative speaking, semifinals
• 2011, Jeff Jones in Lincoln-Douglas debate, 2nd place
• 2017, Katie Reining in communication analysis, octofinals
• 2017, Katie Reining in persuasive speaking, octofinals
• 2017, Emma Webster in dramatic interpretation, octofinals
• 2017, Dylan Comer and Emma Webster in duo interpretation, octofinals
• 2018, Andrew Wagner in persuasion, octofinals
• 2018, Emma Webster in rhetorical criticism, octofinals
• 2022, Jayden Touchette in impromptu speaking, semifinals
• 2022, Jayden Touchette in dramatic interpretation, octofinals
• 2022, Jayden Touchette in extemporaneous speaking, octofinals
• 2022, Jayden Touchette in programmed oral interpretation, octofinals
• 2022, Taylor Roth in dramatic interpretation, octofinals
The McKendree University speech and debate team has been proud to be represented by many fine individuals throughout its history. Below is a list of those people who competed on the team for at least two years, by year of graduation:
• 1999 - John Garner, Adam Jenkins, Michelle (Jackson) Peck, Basil Yurcisin
• 2000 - Joe Blasdel, Jana (Fischer) Brady, Melanie (Smith) Jenkins, Chad Kaffer, Jennifer (Franz) Stratton
• 2001 - Ryan Anderson, Darius Miller, Erica Smith
• 2003 - Mike Artime
• 2005 - Elizabeth Hazzard, Sara Trask
• 2006 - John Dawson, Ryan Diefenbach, Sarah Haefner, Jason Luitjohan
• 2007 - Andrea Knoll, Nell Novara, Mark Wonnacott, Paul Woodruff
• 2008 - Jon Brown, Erin Conner, Ashley Dunning, Josh Johnson, Steve Loftus, Courtney Logan
• 2009 - Clarence Coppinger, Samantha Leonard, Kristie (Manning) Voight, Becky (Lindstrom) Wohltman
• 2010 - Cory Freivogel
• 2011 - Amanda (Ataiyan) Stauder, Whitney Baillie, Jeff Jones, Nishant Timilsina
• 2012 - Zak Kilhoffer, Chris Polanc, Anna (Chambers) Shrestha
• 2013 - Lance Allen, Sarah Brown, Darren Meeker, Mat Myles, Ben Reid, Ian Reynolds
• 2014 - Lucas Barker, Eddie Cox, Alex Cunningham, Sarah DeBruyckere, Brent Nicholson, Brad Thomas, Amanda Walker
• 2015 - Trent Boyer, Josh Fleming, Mary Makarishcheva, Spencer Marcum, Rebecca (Blake) Meeker, Caleb Vines
• 2016 - Rodney McBride
• 2017 - Katie (Reining) Baldwin, Dylan Comer, Taylor Rossi
• 2018 - Alex Baldwin, Beth Graham, Kaitlyn Hutchison, David Junge, Adam Kaul, Gage Simmons, Emma Webster, Noelle Zickefoose
• 2019 - Justin Fausz, Rachel (Hooven) Frailey, Andrew Wagner
• 2020 - Katie Maag, Caden Owens, Adeja Powell, Isa Scaturro, Aliyah Smith
• 2021 - Mitch Deleel, Rebecca Postula
• 2022 - Scott Anderson, Kyle Garrett, Kyle Smith
