McKendree’s Speech and Debate Team Ends Regular Season with Significant Progress
(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 24, 2026) – McKendree University’s speech and debate team ended
its regular season of competition at the Missouri Association of Forensics Activities
(MAFA) tournament, hosted by Webster University in Webster Groves, Mo.
In IPDA debate, Dawid Boles, Cade Braddock, Thor Gavin, El Gray, Ryder Ottolini, Shane Richardson-Veil, and Naszier Smith all competed in the Novice division. Gray advanced to elimination rounds with a perfect 4-0 record in the preliminary rounds but was eliminated in the round of 16.
“Our novice debaters did a nice job this weekend at MAFA,” said Director of Speech and Debate Joe Blasdel. “A couple of students participated in their first ever in-person tournament, while El Gray advanced to final rounds in her third consecutive tournament.”
In Speech, Nevaeh Papp, Zach Roeck, Alyssa Scherer, and Ava Schmollinger competed in a mix of speaking events, including After Dinner Speaking, Dramatic Interpretation Extemporaneous Speaking, and Poetry. No student advanced to elimination rounds.
“While we did not have any students advance to finals, we had several who were incredibly close. We’re optimistic for our next tournament,” said volunteer coach Alexandra Walthes ’25.
The MAFA tournament marks the end of the regular season, with 29 students competing in speech and debate events for the University. Sixteen alumni have returned to assist the program in some capacity at its events this year.
“We had some exceptional highs: multiple perfect preliminary records in debate, tournament championships in speech, hosting high school and college competitions, and significant progress for our young debaters,” said Head Debate Coach Brent Nicholson. “The team had a lot of competitors graduate, and young members have taken on new leadership roles and risen to that challenge. I’m very optimistic for our program’s chances at our national tournaments and looking forward to how these students develop over the next few years.”
The team will next compete in Speech events at the National Speech Championship hosted in Nashville, Tenn., from March 20-22. The team next competes in Debate at the National Parliamentary Debate Association’s Championship Tournament and the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence, hosted consecutively in Macon, Ga., from February 28-March 8.
-McK-
