Marian University Speech and Debate won second overall at the Indiana Forensic Association 2021 State Championship, February 14-15, placing ahead of Butler University, University of Indianapolis, and Purdue University. The team brought home seven individual state championships with 17 Knights competing.

Awards include:

Natalie Rund ’24: State Champion in Novice Prose Interpretation, State Champion in Novice Persuasive Speaking

Alex Rapp ’24: State Champion in Novice Programmed Oral Interpretation, second place in Novice After Dinner Speaking, second place in Novice Dramatic Interpretation

Grace Plahitko ’24: State Champion in Novice Poetry Interpretation and fifth place in Novice Dramatic Interpretation

Timothy Hosford ’23: State Champion in Radio Broadcasting, sixth place in Poetry Interpretation

Jules Frisby ’22: State Champion in Novice Informative Speaking

Julian Santos ’22: Second place in Programmed Oral Interpretation, second place in Poetry Interpretation

Grace Von Lehman ’22: Third place in Poetry Interpretation, third place in Rhetorical Criticism, and third place in Impromptu Speaking

Ben Wilson ’22: Semifinalist in IPDA Debate, third place Speaker in IPDA Debate

Abigail Unrue ’22: Quarterfinalist in IPDA debate, sixth place in Prose Interpretation

Nate Rodenburg ’23: Sixth place in Dramatic Interpretation, sixth place in Impromptu Speaking, seventh place in After Dinner Speaking

MariAngel Morales-Aparicio ’24: Second place in Novice Persuasive Speaking, second place in Novice Programmed Oral Interpretation

Jeffery Martin ’24: Second place in Novice Informative Speaking, fourth place in Novice Prose Interpretation

Nick Kantner ’24: Second place in Novice Poetry Interpretation, sixth place in Novice Informative Speaking

Lydia Shock ’24: Top Novice Speaker in IPDA Debate, third place in Novice Extemporaneous Speaking, fourth place in Novice Impromptu Speaking

Rayna Onate ’21: Fifth place in Radio Broadcasting

Julia Yagodinski ’23: Fourth place in Novice Programmed Oral Interpretation

Enrique Pena ’21: Fourth place in Novice Extemporaneous Speaking

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the speech and debate team was able to compete all year in synchronous and asynchronous tournaments and finished as a top five program six times out of eight tournaments. The team recently placed second overall amongst 19 other schools at the Robot Rumble, which was hosted virtually by Bowling Green State University.

"This team is full of committed, enthusiastic people,” said Drew Stewart, assistant professor of communication and director of speech and debate. “They believe in their performances, they trust us as coaches, and they cheer for each other. Our success at the state tournament reflects the ability to adapt to speaking online, while keeping our program's identity strong. I'm so grateful for this group."

The speech and debate team will end the year at their next and final tournament, the Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament, which will be held virtually March 18-21.