Contributed

The ETSU Speech and Debate team brought home 29 awards and multiple top finishes at the Tennessee state tournament, highlighting what Director Donna Taylor calls years of steady growth and momentum for the program.

Seventeen ETSU competitors combined for 29 awards, earning the second-place debate sweepstakes award and third-place sweepstakes award for individual events. In parliamentary debate, Evan Dombrowsky and Sofia Diaz claimed first place, leading a dominant performance that saw ETSU teams fill the top four spots in the event.

“At the state tournament, we sent four different teams,” said Taylor. “When we got to the semifinal round, it was ETSU versus ETSU, and ETSU versus ETSU. So, it was a shutout.”

The tournament featured a bracket format leading to semifinals and finals. Rather than selecting winners internally when facing teammates — a practice some tournaments allow — Taylor said ETSU competitors are expected to earn their victories head-to-head.

“We believe that you’ve got to earn that trophy,” Taylor said. “Our students get along so well and are so supportive of each other that they don’t mind going head-to-head and battling it out.”

Dombrowsky and Diaz, both varsity members who have competed for two years, captured the championship after advancing through the bracket. Dombrowsky described the win as both challenging and rewarding.

“It was an amazing experience, and a hard-fought one,” Dombrowsky said. “Sofia and I ended up breaking into semifinals, and we had to debate two other ETSU teams for the title, both of whom did spectacularly. It was a great tournament and I’m so proud of our team.”

“We have been steadily working to grow ETSU Speech and Debate,” Taylor said. “One of the primary things we focused on has been strengthening our parliamentary debate program. Our students work hard. When we show up, we show up very strong.”

In addition to its parliamentary success, ETSU made its mark in IPDA debate for the first time this year. Unlike parliamentary debate, which features two-person teams, IPDA is a one-on-one format with longer preparation time.

Rebekah Saulsbury and Nic Willis advanced to the quarterfinal round — placing in the top eight out of 27 participants. For Saulsbury, it was only her second time competing in the format; for Willis, her first.

Taylor credited the team’s success to preparation and research. In parliamentary debate, competitors have 15 minutes to prepare; IPDA debaters have 30. Regardless of the time constraints, ETSU students emphasize evidence-based arguments, organization and clear delivery.

“They run to their laptops and they dive in,” Taylor said. “They try to bring a lot of research citations with reasoning and evidence to back up their claims. It’s proven that people who have evidence are more credible than people who don’t.”

Taylor also pointed to the team’s culture of peer coaching. In addition to weekly Thursday practices, student leaders organize additional sessions where varsity members mentor novices. That collaborative environment, she said, has helped ETSU build momentum and attract new members.

The team has competed in three tournaments this semester and will attend a fourth this weekend. Earlier this term, ETSU traveled to Murray State University and also co-hosted the Buccaneer Bears tournament with Northeast State Community College. But Taylor said the state tournament remains the primary goal each year.

Despite its dominance, Taylor acknowledged unique challenges. In some rounds, ETSU competitors face less experienced teams. The program stresses competing with integrity and compassion, even in uneven matchups.

“We really focus on having integrity and being just a good character in debate instead of taking advantage of the experience that we have,” she said.

Looking ahead, ETSU has won the bid to host the Tennessee Intercollegiate Forensic Association state tournament in February 2027, marking the first time in decades — if ever — that the university has hosted the event.

“That’s a big deal for us,” Taylor said. “We’re bringing the state tournament to ETSU’s main campus.”

The team is also preparing to send four seniors to compete in parliamentary debate at the Pi Kappa Delta National Convention and Tournament in Springfield, Missouri, over spring break.

Closer to home, ETSU will host its annual Spring Showcase on April 16, 2026, from 5-7 p.m. in the East Tennessee Room, Culp Center 272. The event is open to the public and will feature a live debate, top speeches of the year and an audience-selected resolution.

Taylor said the program maintains an open-door policy for students interested in joining.

“We have an open-door policy at our weekly team meetings,” she said. “We meet every Thursday night from 5:15 to 7:15 p.m., and currently we’re meeting in LAMB, room 335. We have visitors stop by all the time to participate in a meeting, to hear some speeches, watch a debate and learn more about what we do.”

Students who wish to compete must complete what the team calls a “green light process,” demonstrating knowledge of debate techniques and writing and delivering speeches before representing ETSU at tournaments.

“But any student who’s interested can pursue it,” Taylor said.

“We don’t have to keep them focused,” she added of her competitors. “They lock in. From the moment they hear their resolution to the end of the round, they are dead-eye focused on the goal of competing well.”

With continued recruitment, administrative support and a growing reputation, Taylor said the program shows no signs of slowing down.

“We have gained incredible traction,” she said. “We’ve got a lot of momentum.”

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