Congratulations to the Belmont Speech & Debate Team for winning the state title! Here is a recap from the Belmont Speech & Debate website:

On February 22-23, Belmont University’s speech and debate competed at the Tennessee Intercollegiate Forensics Association (TIFA) state tournament. As the 2019 champions, the team entered the tournament in hopes of retaining the state title for their second year in a row. Their countless hours of preparation and hard work paid off with numerous individual and team awards, including being named the overall champions at the tournament.

While a full list of awards is listed below, there are several highlights from the weekend. In all twelve individual events offered over the weekend, Belmont University won every single “top novice” award offered. The team claimed the state championship in 5 of the 12 individual events. In IPDA debate, the team also won 3 of the 4 state championships. Also, in the persuasive speaking category, Belmont claimed BOTH spots available to represent that state of Tennessee at the Interstate Oratorical Competition, the oldest running collegiate speech tournament held in the United States.

Below is the full list of awards received over the weekend. Congratulations to Belmont University and their incredibly successful students!!

• Novice IPDA Debate
  • Grace Gray – 4th place speaker
  • Carly Crotty – 2nd place speaker
  • Luke Litz – STATE TOURNAMENT CHAMPION & STATE CHAMPION SPEAKER
• Varsity IPDA DEBATE
  • Deanna Medina – quarterfinalist & 2nd place speaker
  • Tyler Redmon – semifinalist & STATE CHAMPION SPEAKER
• After Dinner Speaking
  • Jace Wilder – 4th place
  • Alex Jordan – 3rd place
  • Aaron Kleinschmidt – 2nd place
  • Emma Johansson – STATE CHAMPION & TOP NOVICE
• Extemporaneous Speaking
  • Alivia Kempf – 6th place
  • Alexander Baynum – 4th place
  • DJ Needs – 3rd place & TOP NOVICE
  • Deanna Medina – STATE CHAMPION
• Dramatic Interpretation
  • Tyi Eason – TOP NOVICE
  • Jace Wilder – 6th place
• Persuasive Speaking
  • DJ Needs – 5th place
  • Sarah Caravahlo – 2nd place
  • Alivia Kempf – STATE CHAMPION & TOP NOVICE
• Programmed Oral Interpretation
  • Alex Jordan – 4th place
  • Tyi Eason – 3rd place & TOP NOVICE
• Radio Broadcasting
  • Emma Johansson – 2nd place
  • Aaron Kleinschmidt – 1st place & TOP NOVICE
• Impromptu Speaking
  • Aaron Kleinschmidt – semi-finalist
  • Sarah Caravahlo – semi-finalist
  • Luke Litz- semi-finalist
  • DJ Needs – 3rd place & TOP NOVICE
• Duo Interpretation
  • Aaron Kleinschmidt & Emma Johansson – TOP NOVICE
  • Tyi Eason / Alexander Baynum – 4th place
  • Marissa Avnaim / Alex Jordan – 3rd place
• Rhetorical Criticism
  • Marissa Avnaim – 4th place
  • Tyler Redmon – 3rd place
  • DJ Needs – 2nd place & TOP NOVICE
  • Alexander Baynum – STATE CHAMPION
• Poetry Interpretation
  • Aaron Kleinschmidt – 5th place
  • Jace Wilder – 4th place
  • Sarah Carvahlo – 2nd place & TOP NOVICE
• Prose Interpretation
  • Emma Johansson – TOP NOVICE
  • Alex Jordan – 5th place
  • Jace Wilder – 3rd place
• Informative Speaking
  • DJ Needs – 6th place
  • Alivia Kempf – 5th place
  • Sarah Carvahlo – 4th place & TOP NOVICE
• Top Overall Speaker (pentathlon) Award
  • Alexander Baynum – 6th place
  • Alex Jordan – 3rd place
  • DJ Needs – 2nd place
• Team Awards
  • Overall Debate Sweepstakes – 2nd place
  • Overall Individual Event Sweepstakes – STATE CHAMPIONS
  • Overall Tournament Sweepstakes – STATE CHAMPIONS