Ball State University is the first Speech Team in the state of Indiana to win 12 consecutive team championships, surpassing Indiana University’s eight-year streak from 1992 to 1999. To date, BSU has won 22 team titles, more than any other school. The annual Indiana Forensic Association (IFA) tournament, held virtually, was comprised of almost 100 students from six universities.  Ball State’s students competed in 59 individual events, advancing 52 to the final rounds, and winning 15 state titles. 

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Please join us in recognizing these outstanding students on their accomplishments:

  • Parker Abrell, a junior from Oswego, IL 
    • 2nd Place Duo Interpretation 
    • 2nd Place Informative Speaking 
    • 3rd Place Impromptu Speaking 
  • Delaney Anderson, a freshman from Rossville, IN 
    • State Champion Novice Dramatic Interpretation 
    • State Champion Novice Persuasive Speaking 
    • 2nd Place Novice Duo Interpretation 
    • 2nd Place Novice Program Oral Interpretation 
  • Jordyn Blythe, a senior from Wesley Chapel, FL 
    • State Champion Informative Speaking 
    • State Champion Prose Interpretation 
    • 2nd Place Extemporaneous Speaking 
    • 3rd Place Cold Read Monologue 
  • Amelia Brewers, a senior from Channahon, IL 
    • State Champion Duo Interpretation 
    • State Champion Rhetorical Criticism 
    • 2nd Place Prose Interpretation 
    • 3rd Place Poetry Interpretation 
  • Imani Butts, a junior from Merrillville, IN 
    • 2nd Place Duo Interpretation 
    • 3rd Place After Dinner Speaking 
    • 3rd Place Persuasive Speaking 
    • 4th Place Dramatic Interpretation 
    • 4th Place Rhetorical Criticism 
  • Aimee Dunphy, a senior from Nashville, TN 
    • State Champion Novice After Dinner Speaking 
    • 3rd Place Novice Duo Interpretation 
  • Mary Engle, a senior from Indianapolis, IN 
    • 2nd Place Slide Karaoke 
    • 4th Place After Dinner Speaking 
    • 4th Place Extemporaneous Speaking 
    • 5th Place Dramatic Interpretation 
  • Evan Gosnell, a junior from Avon, IN 
    • State Champion Novice Informative Speaking 
    • 2nd Place Novice Dramatic Interpretation 
    • 2nd Place Novice Duo Interpretation 
    • 3rd Place Novice Extemporaneous Speaking 
    • 3rd Place Novice Impromptu Speaking 
  • Hannah Hill, a senior from Crown Point, IN 
    • 2nd Place Novice Rhetorical Criticism 
    • 3rd Place Novice Duo Interpretation 
  • Savannah Light, a junior from Indianapolis, IN 
    • 2nd Place Novice Prose Interpretation 
    • 3rd Place Novice Persuasive Speaking 
  • Grace McCormick, a senior from Fort Wayne, IN 
    • State Champion Extemporaneous Speaking 
    • 2nd Place Impromptu Speaking 
    • 2nd Place Rhetorical Criticism 
    • 3rd Place Informative Speaking 
    • 3rd Place Slide Karaoke 
    • 4th Place Persuasive Speaking
  • Eddie Osburn, a senior from Indianapolis, IN 
    • State Champion Cold Read Monologue 
    • 2nd Place After Dinner Speaking 
    • 3rd Place Program Oral Interpretation 
    • 4th Place Poetry Interpretation 
  • Jo Randall, a junior from Rossville, IN 
    • State Champion After Dinner Speaking 
    • State Champion Dramatic Interpretation 
    • 2nd Place Poetry Interpretation 
    • 3rd Place Rhetorical Criticism 
    • 4th Place Program Oral Interpretation 
  • Natalie Thomison, a senior from Normal, IL 
    • State Champion Program Oral Interpretation 
    • 3rd Place Prose Interpretation 
  • Abbie VanMeter, a senior from Noblesville, IN 
    • State Champion Duo Interpretation 
    • State Champion Persuasive Speaking (qualifying for the Interstate Oratorical Association national tournament)
    • State Champion Poetry Interpretation 
    • 4th Place Informative Speaking 

The team is coached by Spencer Coile and graduate students Riley Carroll, Laura Durr, and Brooke Morenz. Next, the BSU speech team will be at the National Speech Championship, hosted virtually March 19-20, followed by the Asynchronous National Championship March 24-27. Finally, from April 12-18, the team will travel to Normal, IL for the National Forensics Association’s Championship Tournament. 


Interested in learning more about the Ball State Speech Team, visit them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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