The Truman Forensics Union dominated the Missouri Association of Forensics Activities (MAFA) State Tournament over Valentine’s Day weekend. The team brought home a total of 8 state championships, including Individual Event Sweepstakes and Combined Sweepstakes. The team placed 2nd in Debate Sweepstakes and was also awarded the Director’s award for the most cumulative points earned over multiple years. The team won over in-state competitors, such as the University of Central Missouri, the University of Missouri-Columbia, and Webster University. They also prevailed over out-of-state competitors (which may compete, but not for state titles) such as Simpson College and McKendree University.
In individual events, first-year Political Science and Environmental Science student Annie Nguyen was Top Novice and State Champion in Communication Analysis. Nguyen was joined by second-year Economics and Political Science student Sawyer Partney, who placed 4th. Second-year Accounting student Emery McEvoy took home the championship in Informative Speaking, with Nguyen placing 3rd and earning top novice. Third-year Political Science student Ashton Mullen was 4th. In Persuasive Speaking, fourth-year Criminal Justice and Social Issue Advocacy student Alex Peterson took home the state title, closely followed by Nguyen, who finished 2nd and was the top novice. Second-yearBiology student Lauren Weiss was 6th. In After Dinner Speaking, first-year Psychology student Willow Adamson finished 4th, followed by fourth-year Political Science student Jessie Philips in 5th, qualifying for nationals, and Weiss in 6th. Peterson also took home the championship in Impromptu speaking, joined by McEvoy, placing 3rd. Mullen and first-year Political Science and Environmental Science student Jack Unsell were semifinalists. In Extemporaneous Speaking, Partney placed 4th, and Mullen finished 5th.
In interpretation events, the team continued its success. In Poetry Interpretation, Philips took home the state title. Philips was joined by fourth-year Chemistry student Briggs Maynor, who finished 2nd, third-year Criminal Justice and English student Zoe Walker, who placed 4th, and Adamson, who placed 6th. Maynor and Philips finished 2nd in Duo Interpretation, with Maynor and Peterson finishing 4th. Peterson finished 5th in Prose Interpretation. Finally, in Program Oral Interpretation, Adamson was 6th, and Walker was 7th. In Pentathlon, which reflects competition across five events, Peterson was 4th, and Maynor was 6th.
Truman’s debaters kept the winning streak going. In Novice Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate, first-year Political Science and Creative Writing student Ammi McHugh and first-year Statistics student Tessa Kremer were semifinalists. McHugh received the 3rd place speaker award. First-year Business Administration student Emmett Beeson was 5th speaker, and Kremer was 6th. In Open LD, fourth-year Communication student Aiden Breesawitz was a semifinalist and received the 2nd place speaker award. Third-year Political Science and Philosophy student Payten Luaders was the 3rd place speaker, and second-year Math student Ryan Franklin was 4th. In Open International Public Debate (IPDA), Partney and second-year Social Issue Advocacy student Cooper Spacil were octafinalists. Spacil also received a 3rd place speaker award. In Team IPDA, the team of Partney and Unsell claimed the state champion title. McEvoy was 3rd speaker, and Unsell was 6th. Unsell placed second as Top Forensicator, given to competitors who compete in both individual events and debate.
Director of Forensics, Dr. Ben Davis, says, “This team always amazes me. I can’t wait to see how much they shine at Nationals.” With the regular season over, the Truman Forensics Union is preparing for the Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament to take place after spring break.