Maverick Speech and Debate Team Secured the 6th Position Nationwide in the Presidents II Division of NFA Tournament
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The Maverick Speech and Debate team attended the National Forensics Association (NFA) national tournament hosted by Bradley University April 13-17, 2023. They competed against 91 other teams including Bradley University, Western Kentucky University, University of Minnesota, Ball State, University of Texas at Austin, Eastern Michigan University, and many others. The team placed 6th IN THE NATION in the Presidents II Division (based on entry size) and TOP 20 IN THE NATION in the overall team sweepstakes!
The Results, VFL 3:
- Tristan Xiong – Octafinalist in Programmed Oral Interpretation, advancing to Quarterfinals!
- James Ziegeweid – Octafinalist in Extemporaneous Speaking and Impromptu Speaking!
- E Meier – Octafinalist in After Dinner Speaking!
- Alex Menne – Octafinalist in Dramatic Interpretation!
Our students spoke their truth on a myriad of topics, ranging from trans advocacy, accessibility, LGBTQ food insecurity, rural queer visibility, decolonizing cultural texts, implicit racial biases in judging practices, corporal punishment, secondary PTSD, vicarious trauma, and so many more...
We're so proud of the hard work, heart, and passion of each and every one of these students! And a well-deserved thanks to our coaches, who collectively wrote over 400 ballots for amazing students across the country.
NFA is always bittersweet...as a celebration and an ending. But we're not done yet. In just a few days, two of our very own will be representing the state of Minnesota at the Interstate Oratorical Association tournament in Austin, TX. This is the oldest and most prestigious persuasion competition in the nation. Only two competitors from each state are chosen to participate by taking 1st and 2nd at their respective state tournaments. This year, both of these students will represent Minnesota State University, Mankato. Do us proud James Ziegeweid and Mary Burshem!
