One for the books: Wayne State University hosts 54th annual NFA speech and debate championship, brings home the hardware

Wayne State University recently hosted the National Forensic Association’s 54th annual national competitive intercollegiate speech and debate tournament, with more than 600 students and coaches from 74 colleges and universities at the event.

In addition to serving as host with support from the Office of the Provost, WSU speech students had tremendous success during the tournament held April 17-21 on Wayne State's campus. Junior Jetmir Mezini finished second place in rhetorical criticism, fifth in informative speaking, and fifth in program oral interpretation. In individual sweepstakes standings, Mezini finished eighth in the nation.

"This was Wayne State's most successful season in WSU speech history. Special recognition to our graduating seniors: quarterfinalist Hannah D'Hondt and semifinalist Jenna Alamat," said Dr. Sydney Pasquinelli, director of debate and assistant professor of teaching in the Department of Communication. "We had contestants representing WSU in the final rounds of 4 out of the 12 speech events — including Jetmir and freshman Reggie Hayes — and many more contestants in semi- and quarterfinal rounds."

Hayes finished fourth place in poetry, fourth in novice informative speaking, and 11th in the individual sweepstakes. 

Overall, the team finished in seventh place and second in the Presidents One sweepstakes, a division for teams with 30-55 entries in the tournament. WSU alumnae Sydney Machesky, a 2015 NFA national champion in Persuasive Speaking, was elected to the NFA Hall of Fame.

"Hosting an event of this magnitude is a remarkable undertaking, requiring months of preparation, and collaboration across the university," said Robert Como, graduate coach for WSU's speech team. "It was an opportunity to showcase our commitment to academic excellence and competitive speech and debate on a national stage. And Wayne State Forensics did just that."

Leading up to NFA, the team finished in second place at the Michigan Interscholastic Speech League State Championship, with Alamat and Hayes winning a state championship in duo interpretation.

There, Hayes also won a second state title in dramatic interpretation. This began a run of championships for him. In late March, Hayes earned his first national championship in poetry at the Asynchronous Speech Championship.

Then, in early April in a first for Wayne State, Hayes won a national title in poetry at the prestigious American Forensic Association National Championship, while the team finished 12th in the team sweepstakes.

The WSU debate team also had an impressive conclusion to their competitive season.

At the beginning of April, they had a dominate performance at the National Education Debate Association (NEDA) National Championship at Slippery Rock University. Senior Finnley Culhane was named the varsity crossfire debate national champion.

Seniors Talea Jackson and Eleen Laham were third place in varsity level crossfire format debate, while teammates senior Iona McWilliams and junior Carsen Troub finished fourth. Senior Malik Jarrell-Miller finished third in novice rapid-fire debate, while junior Liam Teasdle was fifth in varsity policy format debate.

And due to incredible performances throughout the event, the debate team won the national championship team sweepstakes and the season-long sweepstakes awards — a first for Wayne State.

"This season, out of over a hundred colleges and universities, Wayne State placed seventh in the nation — tying our highest placement ever — and appearing in more National Finals than ever before," Como said. "And to achieve all of this here, in Detroit, on our home turf of Wayne State University, is an extraordinary accomplishment. We could not be more proud of our students, coaches, staff, and the entire campus community who helped make this moment possible."

Shawn Wright, Communications Officer for the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts.