McKendree University Speech and Debate Team Hosts Collegiate Tournament, Competes in Two More

(LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 28, 2026) – From January 8 through 11, the halls of Piper Academic Center at McKendree University were packed with students from 11 colleges and universities across six states. The long weekend featured two tournaments of National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA) style debate. Students debated pressing public policy issues including public infrastructure investment, European Union security arrangements, international recognition of The Republic of Somaliland, artificial intelligence, and much more. Four McKendree students competed in the weekend in partnerships of two. The partnership of Ari Carney and Aidan Bradley ended both tournaments with a 2-3 record, defeating teams from Rice University and University of California – Berkeley, but narrowly missing the elimination stage of the tournament with round-5 losses in both events. The partnership of C. Houck and Meera Mohammad finished both tournaments with a record of 1-4.

“The results are disappointing, obviously, but I always remind our students that we don’t do this just to win. We’re here because this is an educational opportunity that they want to capitalize on,” said Head Debate Coach Brent Nicholson. “Our team is young and they’re working through the process of learning. I believe the results will come for them if we keep putting in the work to develop their skills and knowledge of relevant topics.”

Among the tournament’s participants were eight McKendree alumni who served as judges for rounds throughout all four days and assisted current McKendree students in preparation for their competition.

“This is a premier event in NPDA style debate. We’re honored to issue the first-round of invitations to the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence each year, and we have the opportunity to give McKendree students that premier experience because we host this event yearly,” Nicholson said. “As a competitor 15 years ago, I looked forward to this tournament, when it was the Mile High Swing, as the ultimate regular season test for NPDA style debate, and I’m really excited to keep that tradition of excellence alive on McKendree’s campus.”

The National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence (NPTE) is an invitational only tournament for the top 24 teams in NPDA style debate hosted each year. The first round of invitations is issued at the conclusion of The Mound High Swing. Nicholson serves as a member of the Board of the NPTE, as its Topic Committee Chair, and as the Tabulation Director for the tournament.

The Mound High Swing is named to recognize the mound building cultures that historically inhabited Lebanon’s surrounding area and as a nod to the tournament’s historic name, the Mile High Swing, from its time in Colorado.

The month didn’t stop there. On the weekend of January 23-25, McKendree Speech and Debate participated in competitions in speech, International Public Debate Association (IPDA) debate, and NPDA debate. The team competed in two virtual events: The Golden Gate Invitational hosted by Parliamentary Debate at Berkeley and the Gorlok Gala hosted by Webster University. The Gorlok Gala is traditionally held in person but adjusted to a virtual schedule due to winter storms in the area.

In NPDA debate at the Golden Gate Invitational, the team of Bradley and Carney again finished 2-3, narrowly missing elimination rounds with another round-5 loss. The team of Houck and Mohammad repeated their 1-4 finish from The Mound High Swing as well.

“We tried some new things, which we thought would help us get our breakout results. Unfortunately, other teams adjust as well. The ballots from this tournament are representative of higher quality debates, even if we didn’t convert that into additional wins,” Nicholson said. “I’m hopeful that we’ll finish the season strong. If nothing else, I know that our students have done the work necessary to learn about the world and be ready to be good citizens, which is far more important than the wins.”

In IPDA debate at the Gorlok Gala, two McKendree students exceled in the novice division. Dawid Boles and El Gray both advanced to elimination rounds in IPDA style debate. Gray finished in the top eight round and was recognized as the seventh-best speaker in the division. Boles finished in the semifinal round and was recognized as the third-best speaker in the division. They competed alongside teammates Cade Braddock, TJ McCurtis, and Naszier Smith in the novice division and Tyson Thompson in the junior varsity division.

In speech events at the Gorlok Gala, Anna Rose Sheehan finished as a semifinalist in Impromptu, Alyssa Scherer finished in seventh place in Dramatic Interpretation, and the duo of Zach Roeck and Vince Mugnolo finished fifth in Improv Duo. They were joined by teammates Nevaeh Papp, Ava Schmollinger, and Dow White. Students entered a variety of speaking events, with the team entering 15 events total among its six students in speech competition.

"This was an excellent tournament all around for us, especially given that Webster University is one of the biggest and most competitive tournaments in our region,” said Director of Speech and Debate Joe Blasdel. “It was nice to see our new students, including Dawid Boles, El Gray, Vince Mugnolo, and Zach Roeck advance to final rounds, along with returning students Alyssa Scherer and Anna Rose Sheehan."

In addition to individual successes, McKendree Speech and Debate also finished as the first runner-up for the Gorlok Gala’s Traveling Sweepstakes award. Each year, teams are awarded points based on collective success, and those points accumulate across years. The Gorlok Gala is widely considered as one of the best tournaments offering both speech and debate events on the same weekend, and this traveling award represents sustained, programmatic success across a variety of events.

"This was a busy month for McKendree University Speech and Debate, from hosting a major debate tournament to competing at two other tournaments, as well as assisting with three high school events. I really appreciate the efforts of both our coaches and students in making all of this happen," Blasdel said.

The team will finish its regular season in February with competitions hosted online by Mercer University and in person by the Missouri Association of Forensic Activities. March is national tournament season for the team, with both NPDA and NPTE hosting their national championships in NPDA style debate and the National Speech Championship hosted shortly after.

Interested students are always welcome to join McKendree University Speech & Debate. Students can contact Director of Speech & Debate Joe Blasdel by email at jeblasdel@mckendree.edu with any inquiries about the team.

 

-McK-