McKendree Speech and Debate Team Closes Successful Fall Season
Debaters Rank Third in the Nation, Qualify for Nationals
Lebanon, Ill. — McKendree University’s speech and debate team closed its fall competition
with three very successful tournament performances over two weekends, winning a total
of 23 awards. Currently the team of Brent Nicholson and Brad Thomas is ranked third
in the nation, while the team of Lucas Barker and Sarah DeBruyckere is 15th out of 282 total. Both teams have qualified for the National Parliamentary Tournament
of Excellence. Spencer Marcum has qualified for the American Forensic Association
National Individual Events Tournament in programmed oral interpretation.
Thirteen colleges and universities attended Owensboro Community College’s Barbeque
Capital of the World tournament in Kentucky on Nov. 8-9, including the University
of Kentucky, Ball State and McNeese State. Representing McKendree were juniors Rebecca
Blake, Josh Fleming, Cassie Kuberski and Spencer Marcum; and first-years Mary Makarishcheva,
Rodney McBride and Katie Reining.
Marcum won first place in three events—programmed oral interpretation, poetry interpretation
and dramatic interpretation—and took fourth place in poetry. Reining was the tournament
champion in radio speaking, also placing second in informative speaking and fifth
in prose interpretation. Fleming claimed second place in programmed oral interpretation
and third place in after dinner speaking. Kuberski took second in persuasive speaking
and seventh in programmed oral interpretation. Blake and Fleming also placed third
in duo interpretation. Marcum won individual sweepstakes as the top overall performer
at the tournament, while Fleming took fifth place. As a squad, McKendree took first
place in individual events and third place overall.
Ten colleges and universities attended the Greater Wisconsin Swing, hosted by UW at
Whitewater and UW at Madison on Nov. 16-17, including Bradley, Illinois State and
the University of Northern Iowa. Representing McKendree were juniors Blake, Fleming,
Kuberski and Marcum.
At the Whitewater half, McKendree advanced to the finals in two events. Marcum was
second in programmed oral interpretation, while Blake and Fleming were sixth in duo
interpretation. At the Madison half, McKendree advanced five events to finals. Marcum
walked away with third place in poetry interpretation and programmed oral interpretation.
Blake and Fleming won third place in duo interpretation. Fleming also took fourth
in prose interpretation, while Blake took fifth place in after dinner speaking.
Thirteen colleges and universities attended Washburn University’s Top City Classic
on Nov. 16-17, including the University of Colorado, Texas Tech, and the University
of the Pacific. Representing McKendree were senior debaters Lucas Barker, Sarah DeBruyckere,
Brent Nicholson, Brad Thomas and Amanda Walker.
Nicholson and Thomas posted a 6-2 record in prelims. They beat Cedarville University
in octofinals, before losing to Texas Tech University in quarterfinals. The team of
Barker and DeBruyckere went 4-4, just missing the break to elimination rounds.
McKendree University speech team members Spencer Marcum, front;
Cassie Kuberski, Katie Reining, Rebecca Blake and Josh Fleming.
