Speech & Debate Dynasty Rolls On with National Championships

Simpson’s Speech & Debate Team captured two national titles at the Pi Kappa Delta (PKD) National Tournament hosted by Glendale Community College March 7-11. Simpson claimed national championships in both the Combined Sweepstakes and the Debate Sweepstakes. Simpson also took second in Individual Events — its best finish ever as a team. In all, 58 teams competed in the tournament.

Simpson has now won seven national combined titles in the last eight years. The achievement is especially thrilling for first-year Speech & Debate Program Director Tiana Brownen.

“The prestige of Simpson’s program came long before my arrival,” she said, “but I am delighted to be part of the continued legacy. Leading the team to a national championship in my first year as program director has been a surreal experience. I never got to experience that as a competitor myself, so this feels like a full-circle moment.

“Our consistent success as a team is due to each individual team member’s extraordinary talent, passion and dedication. However, team success is what our program prioritizes and it shows through our students’ willingness to work together and help each other, which is one thing that sets our team apart from others.”

Several team members earned multiple honors in the competition. Top finishes included:

• MJ Klinzman ­– National Champion, Novice IPDA Debate
• Dorian Burke, Klinzman – National Champion, Public Forum Debate
• Maddux Stout – Tournament Champion, Public Forum Speaker
• Jesse Pladsen, Stout – National Runner Up, JV Parliamentary Debate
• Ryan Magalhaes – National Runner Up, Extemp Commentary
• AJ Flory – National Champion, Extemp Commentary

“Everyone’s dedication to this activity and advocacy is truly admirable,” said Marisa Mayo, assistant speech & debate program director. “It’s hard to put into words how proud we [Mayo and Brownen] are of this team. We are thankful to work with these remarkable changemakers.”

Below you can find the complete results for Simpson College and a list of schools in attendance.

TEAM RESULTS

• National Champions in Combined Sweepstakes
  • Simpson College – 98 points
    • Ohio University – 72 points
    • Whitman College – 65 points
    • Marian University – 56 points
    • Webster University – 53 points 
• National Champions in Debate Sweepstakes
• Second Place (Runner Up) in Individual Event Sweepstakes

MJ Klinzman

• National Champion Novice IPDA Debate
• National Champion Public Forum Debate with Dorian Burke
• Fourth Speaker in Novice IPDA Debate

Dorian Burke

• National Champion Novice in Public Forum Debate with MJ Klinzman
• Excellence in Impromptu Speaking

Mya Postel

• Excellence in Student Congress
• Excellence in Interviewing

Sydni Powell

• Rising Star Award Recipient
• Top Superior in Discussion
• Top Superior in Student Congress
• Presiding Officer Award
• Excellence in Extemp Commentary
• Excellence in Interviewing
• Showcase Participant in Student Discussion

Maddux Stout

• Tournament Champion- Public Forum Speaker
• National Runner Up in JV Parliamentary Debate with Jesse Pladsen
• Quarterfinalist in Public Forum Debate with Jesse Pladsen

Ryan Magalhaes

• National Runner Up in Extemp Commentary
• Excellence in Duo Interpretation with Tempest Allred
• Excellence in Impromptu Speaking
• Quarterfinalist in Lincoln Douglas Debate
• Third Place in Individual Sweepstakes

Maddie Waddingham

• Semifinalist in Novice IPDA

AJ Flory

• National Champion in Extemp Commentary
• Excellence in Interviewing
• Excellence in Extemporaneous Speaking
• Sixth Speaker in Lincoln-Douglas Debate
• Semifinalist in Lincoln-Douglas

Andrew Samountry

• Showcase Participant in DI
• Excellence in Dramatic Interpretation
• Excellence in Prose Interpretation
• Excellence in Duo Interpretation with Ryan Corcoran

Tempest Allred

• All American Award Recipient
• Top Superior in Student Congress
• Excellence in Duo Interpretation with Ryan Magalhaes
• Excellence in Interviewing
• Excellence in Podcasting

Abby Fry

• Excellence in Podcasting

Anja Waugh

• All American Award Recipient
• Quarterfinalist in Parliamentary Debate with Scott Krueger
• Tenth Speaker in Open Parliamentary Debate
• Excellence in Informative Speaking
• Superior in Impromptu

Breanna Drahota

• Quarterfinalist in Parliamentary Debate with Kyle Werner
• Excellence in Interviewing

Kyle Werner

• Quarterfinalist in Parliamentary Debate with Breanna Drahota
• Excellence in Interviewing

Jesse Pladsen

• Quarterfinalist in Public Forum Debate with Maddux Stout
• National Runner Up in JV Parliamentary Debate with Maddux Stout

Maggie Fitzpatrick

• Excellence in Extemp Commentary

Scott Krueger

• Quarterfinalist in Parliamentary Debate with Anja Waugh
• Superior in Interviewing
• Excellence in Broadcast Journalism
• Excellence in Extemporaneous Speaking

Rachel Garcia

• Rising Star Award Recipient

Ryan Corcoran

• Excellence in Dramatic Interpretation
• Excellence in Student Scholarship
• Excellence in Duo Interpretation with Andrew Samountry
• Excellence in Extemporaneous Speaking

Institutions and Colleges in Attendance

• Appalachian State University
• Arizona State University
• Bellevue College
• Bowling Green State University
• Butler University
• California State University, Chico
• Cameron University
• Capital University
• Carson-Newman University
• Cleveland State Community College
• Concordia University, Irvine
• Duquesne University
• Dutchess Community College
• Glendale Community College
• Gustavus Adolphus College
• Heidelberg University
• Idaho State University
• John Carroll University
• Kansas Wesleyan University
• Liberty University
• Linfield University
• Louisiana State University
• Marian University
• Marshall University
• McNeese State University
• Midland University
• Minnesota State University, Mankato
• Mississippi State University
• Missouri Valley College
• Murray State
• Newberry College
• North Central College
• Northern State University
• Northwest Missouri State University
• Ohio University
• Otterbein University
• Seton Hall University
• Simpson College
• Southwest Baptist University
• Sterling College
• Texas Christian University
• Texas State University
• Texas Tech
• Transylvania University
• University of California, San Diego
• University of Central Florida
• University of Central Missouri
• University of Montana
• University of Nevada, Reno
• University of Texas, El Paso
• University of West Florida
• Utah State University, Logan
• Weber State
• Webster University
• West Chester University
• Westminster College
• Whitman College