McKendree’s Speech and Debate Team Finishes in Top 10 at Pi Kappa Delta Nationals, National Forensic Association Championship Tournament
(LEBANON, Ill., May 2, 2023) – The McKendree University speech and debate team closed
their 2022-2023 season by finishing in the top 10 at both the Pi Kappa Delta Nationals
and the National Forensic Association Championship Tournament.
From March 15 through 18, McKendree students Aaron Brown and Jayden Touchette attended
Pi Kappa Delta’s National Comprehensive Tournament, hosted by West Chester University
near Philadelphia, Pa. Together, they went 3-2 in parliamentary debate, reaching the
octofinal round (ninth place). In extemporaneous speaking, Touchette advanced in both
the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, finishing in sixth place. She was a quarterfinalist
(13th place) in both prose and programmed oral interpretation, while receiving “Excellent”
in editorial impromptu. As a team, McKendree took fifth place in limited entry sweepstakes.
From April 13 through 17, McKendree students Aaron Brown, Emma McIlhargie, Jayden
Touchette and Madeline Trinity attended the National Forensic Association Championship
Tournament, hosted by Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. Brown and McIlhargie qualified
in Lincoln-Douglas debate, while Touchette and Trinity qualified in multiple individual
events. Touchette advanced to final rounds, finishing as an octofinalist (25th place) in both drama and impromptu speaking. As a team, McKendree took sixth place
in limited entry sweepstakes.
“I’m very proud of the work of our students and coaches this year,” said Joe Blasdel,
director of speech and debate at McKendree University. “That’s especially true as
this was a year of transition – both to a new format of debate as well as back to
attending tournaments in person.”
Pi Kappa Delta’s National Comprehensive Tournament:
Aaron Brown, Jayden Touchette
National Forensic Association Championship Tournament:
Jayden Touchette, Madeline Trinity, Joe Blasdel
-McK-
