2025 Final Results for the AFA National Debate and Speech Tournaments
After a long season of competition, we congratulate the participants and winners at this year’s American Forensic Association National Debate Tournament and National Speech Tournament championships.
46th AFA National Speech Tournament @ University of North Carolina, Charlotte
Alumni/Coaching Awards:
Tennisha Sonsalla, Tennessee State University, Outstanding New Coach Award
Nick Steinmetz, Illinois State University, Outstanding New Coach Award
Eric White, alumnus of University of Florida, Distinguished Alumni Award
Dr. Kelsey Abele and Alejandro Mata, both from West Texas A&M, recipients of Dr. Bruce Manchester NST Research Grant
Dr. Amy C. Martinelli, University of Florida, Distinguished Service Award
Team Sweepstakes Results:
1 University of Texas at Austin 462
2 University of Nebraska-Lincoln 385.5
3 George Mason University 358
4 Bradley University 356
5 Eastern Michigan University 325
6 University of Alabama 247.5
7 Cornell University 242
8 University of Illinois Chicago 221
9 University of Minnesota 164.5
10 Illinois State University 156
11 Seton Hall University 119.5
12 Wayne State University 115.5
12 Tennessee State University 115.5
14 South Dakota State University 111.5
15 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire 99
16 University of Nebraska Omaha 95
17 James Madison University 89
18 Hastings College 67
19 University of Wisconsin-Madison 58.5
20 West Texas A&M 53
After Dinner Speaking
Place Competitor(s) Team
1 Jedge Slothower Illinois State University
2 Serena Ahmad University of Illinois Chicago
3 Prem Ganesan George Mason University
4 Austyn Clemen University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
5 Hiba Faruqi University of Texas at Austin
6 Kenzie Hart Illinois State University
Communication Analysis
Place Competitor(s) Team
1 Rodrigo Trujillo Bradley University
2 Louise Engohang Eastern Michigan University
3 Hiba Faruqi University of Texas at Austin
4 Gursimrat Dahry University of Minnesota
5 Samantha Garcia Bradley University
6 James Tipton University of Alabama
Dramatic Interpretation
Place Competitor(s) Team
1 Aaron Anderson Tennessee State University
2 Kaylee Frazier University of Texas at Austin
3 Yarely Galeno University of Illinois Chicago
4 Isaac Machar University of Akron
5 Sydney Kwasa University of Nebraska-Lincoln
6 Ella Bynane University of Texas at Austin
Duo Interpretation
Place Competitor(s) Team
1 Prem Ganesan and Sanyu Mwassa George Mason University
2 Jake Broyles and Kaylee Frazier University of Texas at Austin
3 Sydney Kwasa and Tamyia Bender University of Nebraska-Lincoln
4 Louise Engohang and Meghan Huelsman Eastern Michigan University
5 Casey Looper and Ella Seaton University of Alabama
6 David Swotek and Marcus Cureton University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Extemporaneous Speaking
Place Competitor(s) Team
1 Gursimrat Dahry University of Minnesota
2 Rodrigo Trujillo Bradley University
3 Freya Hutton George Mason University
4 Kayli Pham University of Nebraska-Lincoln
5 Sam Rooker James Madison University
6 Anya Khanna Cornell University
Impromptu Speaking
Place Competitor(s) Team
1 Ishika Bhasin University of Texas at Austin
2 Hiba Faruqi University of Texas at Austin
3 Gursimrat Dahry University of Minnesota
4 Kayli Pham University of Nebraska-Lincoln
5 Rodrigo Trujillo Bradley University
6 James Tipton University of Alabama
Informative Speaking
Place Competitor(s) Team
1 Prem Ganesan George Mason University
2 Rin Jones Seton Hall University
3 Rodrigo Trujillo Bradley University
4 Samuel Dalachinsky George Mason University
5 Taylor Whitley University of Texas at Austin
6 AbdurRahman Elder Eastern Michigan University
Persuasive Speaking
Place Competitor(s) Team
1 Rodrigo Trujillo Bradley University
2 Freya Hutton George Mason University
3 Louise Engohang Eastern Michigan University
4 Ishika Bhasin University of Texas at Austin
5 Brooklynn Schmidt University of Nebraska Omaha
6 Gursimrat Dahry University of Minnesota
Poetry Interpretation
Place Competitor(s) Team
1 Reggie Hayes Wayne State University
2 Joshua Timmons Bradley University
3 Tamyia Bender University of Nebraska-Lincoln
4 Prem Ganesan George Mason University
5 David Swotek University of Nebraska-Lincoln
6 Bri Narick Hastings College
Program Oral Interpretation
Place Competitor(s) Team
1 Anna Cecilia Fierro Cornell University
2 Jaliah Smith Cornell University
3 Prem Ganesan George Mason University
4 Kilee Wilkinson University of Nebraska-Lincoln
5 Patrick Pham University of Texas at Austin
6 Kenzie Hart Illinois State University
Prose Interpretation
Place Competitor(s) Team
1 Aaron Anderson Tennessee State University
2 Louise Engohang Eastern Michigan University
3 Kaylee Frazier University of Texas at Austin
4 Hannah Markley South Dakota State University
5 Gavin Millard Eastern Michigan University
6 Teagan Fuller Eastern Michigan University
79th National Debate Tournament at Gonzaga University (Spokane, Washington)
Pre-tournament Awards
The Laurence H. Tribe Distinguished Alumni Award
Kelli Sager, First Amendment and media attorney at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
The Lucy M. Keele Award for Excellence in Service
Brendon Bankey, University of Texas
The George W. Ziegelmueller Award for Excellence in Education
David Cram Helwich, University of Minnesota
The Ross K. Smith Coach of the Year Award
Mikaela Malsin, Emory University
Rex Copeland Award for Best Season-long Performance
John Marshall and Graham Revare, University of Kansas
Tournament Final Places
1st T. Louis & Cohn Binghamton FINAL
2nd Marshall & Revare Kansas FINAL
SEMIS Bald & Cai Dartmouth SEMIS
SEMIS Ortega & Medina CSU Long Beach SEMIS
QTRS Cowan & Sayers Georgetown QTRS
QTRS Price & Kochel Macalester QTRS
QTRS Bressler & Mojica Wake Forest QTRS
QTRS Gallagher & Hecht Emory QTRS
OCTAS Lobo & Yang Emory OCTAS
OCTAS Deo & Rubin Northwestern OCTAS
OCTAS Dal Pra & Keller West Georgia OCTAS
OCTAS Adam & McBlain Kentucky OCTAS
OCTAS Barrett & Park Michigan OCTAS
OCTAS Shah & Shih Michigan OCTAS
OCTAS Larson & Schultz Kansas OCTAS
OCTAS Esmailzadeh & Shetty Michigan OCTAS
DBLS Pacconi & Souchet Northwestern DBLS
DBLS Gusis & Lewis Michigan State DBLS
DBLS Miklovis & Montford Michigan State DBLS
DBLS Makinde & Saigal NYU DBLS
DBLS Leverett & Sencion Wake Forest DBLS
DBLS Davis & Fuchs George Mason DBLS
DBLS Gabay & Slish Kentucky DBLS
DBLS Cunningham & Layton Liberty DBLS
DBLS Harris & Wilkus Kansas DBLS
DBLS Arney & Lundberg Northwestern DBLS
DBLS Anderson McElligott & Parfenoff Iowa DBLS
DBLS Menotti & Reichel UC Berkeley DBLS
Speaker Awards
1 Graham Revare Kansas MR 711.37 650.30
2 Daniel Gallagher Emory GH 710.40 649.50
3 Connelly Cowan Georgetown CS 709.84 649.30
4 Eli T. Louis Binghamton CT 709.45 650.00
5 John Marshall Kansas MR 709.42 648.90
6 Rose Larson Kansas LS 708.87 648.90
7 Curtis Ortega CSU Long Beach OM CSU 708.23 648.60
8 Jiyoon Park Michigan BP 708.12 647.80
9 Margaret Hecht Emory GH 708.05 647.60
10 Sam Price Macalester PK 707.66 648.20
11 Jeremiah Cohn Binghamton CT 707.54 648.60
12 Eleanor Barrett Michigan BP 707.44 647.30
13 Luna Schultz Kansas LS 707.41 647.80
14 Jared Adam Kentucky AM 706.95 646.60
15 Will Kochel Macalester PK 706.93 647.20
16 Holland Bald Dartmouth BC 706.75 646.80
17 Veronica Rubin Northwestern DR 706.69 647.40
18 Daniel Medina CSU Long Beach OM 706.61 647.50
19 Spencer Anderson McElligott Iowa AP 706.46 646.80
20 Akash Deo Northwestern DR 706.36 647.20