For members of the Speech and Debate team at ETSU, competing in the three-day long tournament at MTSU was not for nothing–the team was able to bring home 10 awards as a symbol of their success. 

“It goes to show that the students who are a part of this club really apply themselves [and] they’re putting in the effort,” said Speech and Debate Club President Justin Washington. “What it means is that it’s working and it’s continuing to progress every day.”

The tournament was held Oct. 27-29 at the MTSU campus in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. At the tournament, Washington and his partner Kylie Harrison received second place in Parliamentary Debate and second place in the Team Sweepstakes.

Washington and Harrison also received fifth place and second place Speaker Awards, respectively. 

Speech Team member Kristina Taylor received first place in both Impromptu Speaking and Programmed Oral Interpretation.

Photo of Ijeoma Chukwu-Amaechi, Ipinoluwa Akintola, and Kristina Taylor. (Contributed/speechanddebateetsu Instagram)

Speech Team member Ijeoma Chukwu-Amaechi received second place in Persuasive Speaking and seventh place in Impromptu Speaking.

Speech Team member Ipinoluwa Akintola received fourth place in Persuasive Speaking and sixth place in Impromptu Speaking. 

Washington shared that while the extent of the victory was shocking for the team, it came as no surprise.

“We knew we would do well,” Washington said. “We feel confident with our skills and abilities.”

Washington anticipates that the victory at MTSU’s tournament will change the trajectory of the team going forward, in regards to team performance and campus recognition. 

“I think overall it’s going to imply that the standards are increasing,” Washington said. “This is a team that’s going to go out there and compete, is confident [and] is going to represent ETSU and ETSU values well.”

The final competition of the semester was held this past weekend, and was purely a debate competition. ETSU sent two debate teams to compete, and one of the teams received second place there.

The new competition season for ETSU Speech and Debate will open with a Speech and Debate tournament held Feb. 9-10 at Pellissippi State Community College. 

For more information on ETSU’s Speech and Debate team, visit their website: www.etsu.edu/cas/communication-studies-storytelling/resources/speech_and_debate_team.php

To keep up with ETSU’s Speech and Debate team, follow them on Instagram: @speechanddebateatetsu.

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