Forensics Ranks Among Top Teams in the Nation at First Post Season Tournaments
Alex Peterson (left) and Ella Schnake competed at the American Forensic Association National Speech Tournament.
They competed against 58 of the top teams and hundreds of the most talented competitors in the nation. Despite only having two members representing the team, Truman Speech outperformed teams such as Northwestern University, Seton Hall and South Dakota State University. Truman Forensics has not attended the NST in more than 15 years, making this outing a special addition to the team’s history.
A double-major in political science/international relations and sociology, Schnake made it to the semifinal rounds in extemporaneous speaking, impromptu speaking and prose interpretation, placing among the top 12 in the nation in each event. She was also a quarterfinalist (top 24) in both communication analysis and dramatic interpretation.
Schnake was also acknowledged as a member of the AFA All-American team, a prestigious honor recognizing students for their strong dedication to and high achievements in forensics, service responsibilities and academics. She has maintained a 4.0 throughout her career at Truman, was the president of Delta Zelta sorority on campus, is an advocate for Missouri children and family services, served on the University Board of Governors, is a leader on the speech team and has an extensive record of success in forensics speech and debate. Some of Schnake’s most noteworthy accomplishments include earning first place in the pentathlon category at the Missouri state tournament the past three years, being named the top forensicator in Missouri the past two years, third place in dramatic interpretation and sixth place in duo at the 2023 Pi Kappa Delta national tournament, among multiple other state championship titles and national outround performances.
Peterson, a double-major in criminal justice and social issue advocacy, earned their spot in the quarterfinals for both after-dinner speaking and impromptu. Due to AFA’s more rigorous competition, getting to any outround at the tournament is a great accomplishment, and making it to two outrounds as a sophomore is extremely rare.
Previously in March, members of the debate team competed online at the third annual Grand Prix Lincoln-Douglas (LD) nationals warmup tournament, hosted by Western Kentucky University. The debate team earned a collective third place finish out of 19 schools.
At the Grand Prix, seniors Alicia Stout and Elijah Baum were recognized as members of the All-American team, highlighting their robust achievements in academics and debate throughout their respective undergraduate careers. Stout has also maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her career, and Baum has maintained above a 3.5.
Some of Stout’s most prominent accomplishments include the second place national runner-up and sixth place speaker in LD at the 2023 Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament. As a sophomore, she was a double-octofinalist (top 32) and fourth place speaker at NFA nationals in 2022. Baum has consistently placed in outrounds at the MAFA state tournament throughout his entire time on the debate team, making it to the quarterfinal round (top eight) in both his junior and senior years.
Baum earned his spot as an octofinalist (top 12) and open 10th place speaker at the tournament, and Stout made it to the semifinal round (top four) and was first place speaker in the open/varsity division.
Freshman Ben Croat was the tournament champion and first place speaker in the novice division at the tournament. Croat also received an Emerging Debater of the Year award for his outstanding record of competitive success throughout his first year as a collegiate debater.
Freshman Payten Luaders placed as the 10th speaker in the junior varsity division.
Stout, Baum, Croat and senior Eli Bartz were all recognized as National Debate Scholars at the tournament for their impressive academic records and high achievements in debate.
All of the debaters competing at the Grand Prix are currently political science and international relations majors at Truman.
“Seeing these students do so well in both school and forensics is so inspiring, and I’m lucky to work with such motivated and talented students,” said Ben Davis, director of forensics.
The team has one remaining tournament left this year, the National Forensic Association (NFA) national tournament, hosted at Central Michigan University. The team leaves April 16 for the week-long competition that will conclude their season.
Students interested in joining the Forensics Union should contact Davis at bdavis@truman.edu or visit forensics.truman.edu/joinus.
