2019-2020 Season
Hot & Spicy Tournament - Louisiana Tech University
Josh was an octafinalist, along with earning the 3rd place speaker in TIPDA and 5th place speaker in Varsity.
Mia was a quarterfinalist, as well as the 2nd place speaker in Junior Varsity.
Tyler, and the Josh/Alicia team, were semi finalists. Tyler was also the 5th place speaker in JV.
Aryonna ended in 2nd place, out of 50 in the Novice division.
Nirmal ended in 2nd place, out of 46 in Junior Varsity.
The MSU squad earned 2nd place in TIPDA sweeps.
Hub City Swing – University of Southern Mississippi
Mayukh Datta finished his first debate tournament in the semi-finals, with a preliminary round record of 6-0, in a field of 35 novice debaters.
Tyler Melvin won the Junior Varsity division of 28 debaters. Tyler also earned the first place speaker, and Mia Robertson won the fifth place speaker, in Junior Varsity Debate.
Doug Bedsaul won the 4th place speaker award in the Professional Debate division.
Mia Robertson won first place in individual Persuasive Speaking. She also was named Top Novice in both Persuasive and Extemporaneous Speaking.
Josh McCoy and Alicia Brown paired up to win their division In TIPDA, a form of partner debate, of 20 teams, with a record of 7-0.
Mia Robertsonearned 4th place in Extemporaneous Speaking in an additional tournament held for speaking events and partner debate. She also repeated as the champion in Persuasive Speaking, and Top Novice in both events.
Dawn Jackson finished in 6th place for Impromptu Speaking.
McCoy paired up with Parker Krag this time, where they finished in 2nd place in the field of 15 teams. Josh won the top speaker award in this division, with Parker right behind him in second place. For their success and speaking ability, this pairing also won the Top Team Debate award.
As a team, MSU won the 3rd place TIPDA sweeps award, and the fourth place comprehensive points award.
Naveen Pejaver Memorial - Middle Tennessee State University
In individual speaking events, Dawn Jackson won third place in Informative Speaking, and Mia Robertson won first place in Persuasive Speaking.
In TIPDA, a form of partner debate, Josh McCoy and Alicia Brown finished the tournament as quarter-finalists. Josh also earned the 5th place speaker award in this division.
In the Varsity division of individual debate, Alicia Brown earned her spot as a semi-finalist and the 2nd place speaker award. Also a semi-finalist, Mia Robertson won the 5th place speaker in the Junior Varsity division.
Southern Forensics University – Mississippi State University
The Council hosted the regional speech and debate tournament, which included nearly 200 college students from 27 public and private colleges and universities in nine states. The tournament also serves as the championship for Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.
MSU won first-place in Debate Sweepstakes and third-place in the Overall Team
Sweepstakes.
Nirmal Bhatt was elected to start the new term, while Alicia Brown ended her term as student representative to the SFC Board.
Dawn Jackson won fourth place and Mississippi Champion, Informative Speaking. Josh McCoy and Alicia Brown were semi-finalists in Team.
Amanda Kronenberger was an octo-finalist in Novice Debate and fourth place Speaker Award.
Alicia Brown was an octo-finalist in Varsity Debate and Mississippi Champion, and fourth place Speaker Award.
Tyler Melvin was a quarterfinalist and fourth place Speaker Award, JV Division.
Mia Robertson won first place in Persuasive Speaking, fifth place Extemporaneous Speaking, and Mississippi Champion for both events.
Vols Classic - University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Amanda Kronenberger competed in the Novice Debate division, making it to the final round and earning the 5th place Novice Speaker award.
In Junior Varsity Debate, Mia Robertson finished the weekend as a quarterfinalist, losing only to teammate Nirmal Bhatt. She also earned the 1st place JV Speaker award.
Tyler Melvin and Bhatt finished as semi finalists in the junior varsity division.
Alicia Brown finished as a quarterfinalist in the Varsity Debate division.
With the highest winning percentage of all schools in the preliminary rounds, MSU earned the 1st place IPDA Team Sweepstakes award and the 3rd place Overall Sweepstakes award.
Eddy Shell Invitational - Bossier Parish Community College
Individual speaking events
Mia Robertson won first place for her persuasive speech. She also won third place in extemporaneous speaking, with Tyler Melvin coming in fifth place.
Debate
Josh McCoy finished as a double-octofinalist in varsity, while Amanda Kronenberger (novice), Nirmal Bhatt (junior varsity), Tyler Melvin (junior varsity), and Luke Acuff (varsity) finished as octofinalists. Tyler also won the 4th place speaker award in his division. Alicia Brown finished as a quarterfinalist in the varsity division, while Mia Robertson finished on top of the field of 54 competitors in the junior varsity division. Josh McCoy and Alicia Brown also paired up for partner debate, and finished as quarter-finalists. Out of 30 participating schools, the MSU squad earned 3rd place in individual events, 4th place in debate, and 4th place overall.
Team Me Up/ TECHnicially Speaking - Arkansas Tech University
Josh McCoy and Alicia Brown paired up for team debate, finishing as semi finalists in the second swing of the tournament. Brown won the 2nd place speaker award for this swing, while McCoy won the same award in the first swing. Mayukh Datta finished as a quarterfinalist in the
novice division, and earned the 5th place speaker award.
Tyler Melvin and Nirmal Bhatt
finished as quarterfinalists in the junior varsity division. Bhatt also earned the 5th place
speaker award for JV. In addition to team debate, Alicia Brown competed in the varsity
debate division and finished as a semi finalist. Her effort throughout the weekend
resulted in winning the Top Performer Cup. Overall, the team combined to earn the 2nd
place debate sweepstakes award.
AFA-NIET Districts/ Black Warrior Invitational - University of Alabama
At the District IV tournament for individual speaking events, Dawn Jackson placed 5th in the final round of impromptu speaking, and 6th in the final round of informative. Nate Williams placed 7th in the final round of extemporaneous speaking. Delaney Reed placed 3rd in Poetry Interpretation, which qualifies her to compete alongside teammate Mia Robertson in the prestigious AFA-NIET.
At the Black Warrior Invitational, Jackson placed 5th in impromptu and 4th in informative speaking, Williams placed 4th in extemporaneous speaking, Reed placed 2nd in poetry interpretation, and Robertson earned 1st place in persuasive speaking. The team earned the 3rd place team sweepstakes award.
Season Long National Debate Awards
Mia Robertson: 1st place in Junior Varsity and 5th place speaker
Tyler Melvin: 5th place in Junior Varsity and 7th place speaker
Josh McCoy/Alicia Brown: 5th place Team
MSU: 2nd place Junior Varsity Squad
Season Long National Speech Awards
Mia Robertson qualified for the AFA National Tournament, the NFA National Tournament and the International Oratory Contest in Persuasive Speaking. She also advanced in the National Speech Virtual Experience.
Dawn Jackson qualified for the NFA National Tournament in Informative Speaking and Impromptu Speaking. She also advanced in the National Speech Virtual Experience.
Delaney Reed qualified for the AFA National Tournament and the NFA National Tournament in Poetry Interpretation.
Cheryl Chambers was named MSU’s Student Organization Advisor of the Year.
2018-19 Season
Hub City Swing - University of Southern Mississippi
Overall Tournament Sweepstakes - 5th Place
Individual Events Sweepstakes – 3rd Place
Debate Awards
IPDA Junior Varsity Division: Luke Acuff – Quarterfinalist
IPDA Team Division: Acuff/Spanos – Semifinalists
Individual Events Awards
First Half Swing
Maggie Bridges: After Dinner Speaking - 1st Place; Impromptu - 2nd Place; Persuasive Speaking – 2nd Place
Second Half Swing
Maggie Bridges: After Dinner Speaking - 1st Place; Impromptu – 5th Place; Persuasive Speaking – 1st Place; Overall Speaker – 3rd Place
Weevil Wars - University of Arkansas at Monticello
Debate Awards
IPDA Junior Varsity Division: Luke Acuff – Octafinalist; Spyro Spanos – Octafinalist
IPDA Junior Varsity Speaker Awards: Luke Acuff – 1st Place; Spyro Spanos – 3rd Place
IPDA Varsity Speaker Awards: Josh McCoy – 3rd Place
Cleveland State Community College Invitational
Overall Tournament Sweepstakes – 3rd Place
Individual Events Awards
Maggie Bridges: After Dinner Speaking - 1st Place; Informative – 1st Place; Persuasive Speaking – 2nd Place; Impromptu – 3rd Place
Star Invitational - Florida State University
Individual Events Awards
Maggie Bridges: Informative – 3rd Place; After Dinner Speaking – 4th Place; Persuasive Speaking -5th Place; Star Quality Award
Naveen Pejaver Memorial Debate and Forensic Tournament - Middle Tennessee State University
Overall Tournament Sweepstakes - 3rd Place
Debate Sweepstakes - 3rd Place
Team Debate Sweepstakes - 1st Place
Debate Awards
IPDA Team Division: Brown/McCoy - Champions
IPDA Junior Varsity Division: Luke Acuff - Champion
IPDA Novice Division: Tyler Melvin – Champion; Nirmal Bhatt – Octafinalist; Arvind Loganathan - Octafinalist
IPDA Varsity Division: Josh McCoy – Quarterfinalist; Alicia Brown - Quarterfinalist
Speaker Awards: Josh McCoy – 1st Place, Team IPDA/3rd Place – Varsity IPDA; Alicia Brown – 5th Place, Team IPDA; Luke Acuff – 4th Place, Junior Varsity IPDA
Individual Events Awards
First Half Swing
Maggie Bridges: Persuasive – 2nd Place; Impromptu – 2nd Place; Informative – 1st Place; After Dinner Speaking – 1st Place; Prose Interp – 4th Place; Pentathlon – 1st Place
Second Half Swing
Maggie Bridges: Persuasive – 2nd Place; Impromptu – 4th Place; Informative – 1st Place; After Dinner Speaking – 1st Place; Prose Interp – 2nd Place; Pentathlon – 1st Place
Deep South Debates - Mississippi College
Overall Tournament Sweepstakes – 2nd Place
Debate Awards
IPDA Junior Varsity Division: Luke Acuff – Semifinalist
IPDA Varsity Division: Alicia Brown – Quarterfinalist; William Bonduris - Octafinalist
IPDA Novice Division: Tyler Melvin – Quarterfinalist; Nirmal Bhatt- Octafinalist
IPDA Professional Division: Doug Bedsaul - Quarterfinalist
Speaker Awards: Luke Acuff – 2nd Place, Junior Varsity IPDA
Southern Forensics Championships - Louisiana Tech University
Overall Tournament Sweepstakes – 2nd Place
Debate Awards
IPDA Junior Varsity Division: Luke Acuff – Semifinalist
IPDA Varsity Division: Alicia Brown – Quarterfinalist; William Bonduris - Octafinalist
IPDA Novice Division: Tyler Melvin – Quarterfinalist; Nirmal Bhatt- Octafinalist
IPDA Professional Division: Doug Bedsaul - Quarterfinalist
Speaker Awards: Luke Acuff – 2nd Place, Junior Varsity IPDA
Southern Forensics Championships - Louisiana Tech University
Overall Tournament Sweepstakes – 3rd Place
Debate Sweepstakes - 2nd Place
Debate Awards
IPDA Varsity Division: Josh McCoy - Finalist
IPDA Junior Varsity Division: Spyro Spanos – Semifinalist; Luke Acuff - Octafinalist
IPDA Novice Division: Tyler Melvin – Semifinalist; Nirmal Bhatt – Octafinalist; Aryonna Johnson - Octafinalist
IPDA Team Division: Brown/McCoy - Quarterfinalists
Speaker Awards: Luke Acuff – 2nd Place, Junior Varsity IPDA; Spyro Spanos – 5th Place, Junior Varsity IPDA
Mississippi State Champions:
- Doug Bedsaul – IPDA Professional
- Tyler Melvin – IPDA Novice
- Josh McCoy – IPDA Varsity
- Spyro Spanos – IPDA Junior Varsity
- Luke Acuff – IPDA Team Speaker
Individual Events:
- Maggie Bridges qualified for the Interstate Oratorical Contest, the oldest speaking competition in the United States
Mardi Gras Classic - Louisiana State University
Overall Tournament Sweepstakes – 1st Place
Debate Sweepstakes – 1st Place
Team Debate Sweepstakes – 1st Place
Debate Awards
IPDA Novice Division: Aryonna Johnson and Tyler Melvin – Co-Champions (close out); Nirmal Bhatt – Semifinalist; Nate Williams - Quarterfinalist
IPDA Varsity Division: Alicia Brown – Finalist
IPDA Junior Varsity Division: Luke Acuff – Semifinalist; Spyro Spanos – Semifinalist
IPDA Team Division: Acuff/Spanos – Semifinalists
Speaker Awards: Luke Acuff – 1st Place Junior Varsity IPDA/ 3rd Place Team IPDA; Spyro Spanos – 2nd Place Junior Varsity IPDA/ 2nd Place Team IPDA; Tyler Melvin – 2nd Place Novice IPDA; Nate Williams – 3rd Place Novice IPDA; Doug Bedsaul – 3rd Place Professional IPDA; Alicia Brown – 5th Place Varsity IPDA
Individual Events Awards:
First Half Swing
Maggie Bridges: Persuasive Speaking – 3rd Place; Informative Speaking – 6th Place
Second Half Swing:
Maggie Bridges: Persuasive Speaking – 5th Place; Informative Speaking 0n 2nd Place
Eddy Shell Invitational - Bossier Parish Community College
Overall Tournament Sweepstakes - 1st Place
Debate Sweepstakes – 3rd Place
Debate Awards:
IPDA Team Division: Brown/McCoy – Quarterfinalists
IPDA Varsity Division : Williams Bonduris – Quarterfinalist; Josh McCoy – Quarterfinalist
IPDA Professional Division: Doug Bedsaul – Quarterfinalist
Speaker Awards: Tyler Melvin – 1st Place, Novice; Alicia Brown – 3rd Place, Varsity
Novice IPDA Debate: Nirmal Bhatt – Octafinalist; Tyler Melvin – Octafinalist*
*Eliminated due to tabulation error; won octafinal round 3-0.
Individual Events Awards:
Maggie Bridges: After Dinner Speaking – 1st Place; Informative – 1st Place; Persuasive – 1st Place; Impromptu – 5th Place, Individual Sweepstakes – 1st Place
Season-Long and National Honors
Team Honors
Midwest Debate Assocation, Outstanding Non-Midwestern Program
Individual Events
Maggie Bridges:
- Qualified for and competed at the 41st American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament in 4 events.
- Qualified for and competed at National Forensics Association National Championship Tournament in 4 events. Quarter-finalist in After Dinner Speaking out of 154 contestants.
- Qualified for and competed in the 143th Interstate Oratorical Contest.
Debate Awards
International Public Debate Assocation National Season-Long Rankings, out of 138 programs:
- Novice Squad: 4th
- Team Debate Squad 6th
- Pro Squad 10th
- Scholastic Award 6th
IPDA Individual Season-Long Rankings
- Novice: Tyler Melvin 3rd (out of 520 individuals)
- Novice Speaker: Tyler Melvin 10th
- Junior Varsity: Luke Acuff 10th
- Junior Varsity Speaker: Luke Acuff 2nd
- Team: Acuff/Spanos 8th, Brown/McCoy 10th
- Team Speaker: Luke Acuff 5th
2017-18 Season
BPCC Eddy Shell Invitational (February 2018)
Debate Awards:
- IPDA Novice Division - Spyro Spanos, Top 32
- IPDA Varsity Division - Williams Bonduris, Octafinalist
- IPDA Professional Division - Bart Thevery, Champion
Debate Speaker Awards:
- IPDA Novice Division - Spyro Spanos, 5th Place
Individual Events Awards:
- Persuasive Speaking - William Bonduris, Champion
- Extemporaneous Speaking - William Bonduris, 5th Place
AFA District 6 Qualifier/Black Warrior Invitational (February 2018)
First Half Swing Awards:
- Persuassive Speaking - Maggie Bridges, 6th Place
Second Half Swing Awards:
- Persuasive Speaking - Maggie Bridges, 5th Place
- After-Dinner Speaking - Maggie Bridges, 4th Place
Qualifications:
- Maggie Bridges qualified for American Forensics Association National Tournament
Team Sweepstakes - 5th Place
Louisiana State University Mardi Gras Tournament (February 2018)
Overall Tournament Sweepstakes – 1st Place
Overall Debate Sweepstakes – 1st Place
Individual Events Awards:
- Persuasive Speaking: Luke Acuff – 5th Place, Maggie Bridges – 6th Place
- Extemporaneous Speaking: Luke Acuff – 5th Place
Debate Awards:
- IPDA Novice Division: Luke Acuff -1st Place, Spyro Spanos – Quarterfinalist
- IPDA Varsity Division: William Bonduris – Quarterfinalist
- IPDA Pro Division: Doug Bedsaul – 2nd Place, Josh McCoy – Semifinalist
- IPDA Team Division: Josh McCoy/Chad Rogers – Semifinalists
Debate Speaker Awards:
- IPDA Novice Division: Luke Acuff – 1st Place
- IPDA Varsity Division: Wiliam Bonduris – 4th Place
- IPDA Pro Division: Josh McCoy – 5th Place
- IPDA Team Division: Josh McCoy – 1st Place
Southern Forensics Championship (January 2018)
Overall Mississippi Sweepstakes – 2nd Place
Individual Events Awards:
- Persuasive Speaking: Luke Acuff – 3rd Place, Maggie Bridges – 5th Place
- Extemporaneous Speaking: Luke Acuff – Mississippi State Champion, Top Novice
Debate Awards:
- IPDA Novice Division: Luke Acuff – Octafinalist, Sypro Spanos – Top 32
- IPDA Pro Division: Chad Rogers – Semifinalist/Mississippi State Champion, Doug Bedsaul – Quarterfinalist
Debate Speaker Awards:
- IPDA Pro Division: Chad Rogers – 3rd Place
Mississippi College Deep South Debates (December 2017)
Sweepstakes - 2nd Place
Individual Awards:
- IPDA Varsity Division: Josh McCoy - Champion
- IPDA Novice Division: Luke Acuff - Champion, 1st Place Speaker; Stevie Flynt - Quarterfinalist; Spyro Spanos - Octafinalist; Christian Donoho - Octafinalist
- IPDA Junior Varsity Division: Sean McCarthy - Quarterfinalist
Louisiana Tech University Hot & Spicy Tournament (October 2017)
- IPDA Varsity Division: William Bonduris - Quarterfinalist
- IPDA Varsity Division: Chad Rogers - 5th Place Speaker
- IPDA Professional Division: Doug Bedsaul - Quarterfinalist, 5th Place Speaker
LSU-Shreveport Red River Swing Tournament (October 2017)
- Overall Tournament Sweepstakes - 4th Place
- Overall Debate Sweepstakes - 4th Place
- Overall Individual Events Sweeptakes - 4th Place
- First Half Individual Events Sweepstakes - 4th Place
- Second Half Individual Events Sweepstakes - 4th Place
Individual Events Awards:
- After Dinner Speaking: Maggie Bridges - 4th Place (First Half), 4th Place (Second Half), Top Novice Award
- Extemporaneous Speaking: Athena Kavanagh - 5th Place (First Half), 4th Place (Second Half)
- Informative Speaking: Sean McCarthy - 6th Place (First Half), 5th Place (Second Half); Athena Kavanagh - 7th Place (First Half), 7th Place (Second Half)
- Persuasive Speaking: Luke Acuff - 4th Place (First Half), 3rd Place (Second Half); William Bonduris - 5th Place (Second Half)
Debate Awards:
- IPDA Team Division: Josh McCoy and Chad Rogers - Champions
- IPDA Varsity Division: Josh McCoy - Champion; Chad Rogers - Octafinalist
- IPDA Junior Varsity Division: Alicia Brown - 2nd Place
- IPDA Novice Division: Stvie Flynt - Quarterfinalist; Luke Acuff - Octafinalist
Debate Speaker Awards:
- Alicia Brown, 1st Place Speaker - Junior Varsity Division
- Josh McCoy, 1st Place Speaker - Varsity Division; 2nd Place Speaker - Team Division
- Chad Rogers, 5th Place Speaker - Team Division
2016-17 Season
Hub City Swing – University of Southern Mississippi (September 2016)
Combined Sweepstakes – 2nd Place
Debate Sweepstakes – 4th Place
Individual Awards:
- IPDA Professional Division: Doug Bedsaul – Semifinalist
- IPDA Novice Division: Athena Kavanagh – Quarterfinalist; Julia Rachel Kuehnle - Octafinalist
- IPDA Junior Varsity Division: Josh McCoy – Quarterfinalist
- IPDA Team Division: Josh McCoy and Parker, Quarterfinalists
- IPDA Speaker Awards: Josh McCoy, Junior Varsity – 1st Place; Doug Bedsaul, Professional - 1st Place; Mackenzie Ellis, Junior Varsity - 4th Place; Athena Kavanagh, Novice – 4th Place; Parker Krag, Team - 5th Place
Deep South Debates – Mississippi College (December 2016)
Debate Sweepstakes – 3rd Place
Individual Awards:
- IPDA Novice Division: Holly Travis and Alicia Brown – Co-Champions, Close Out; Athena Kavanagh - Quarterfinalist
- IPDA Junior Varsity Division: William Bonduris – 2nd Place Speaker
Southern Forensics Championships (January 2017)
- Persuasive Speaking: Sean McCarthy – 6th Place
- Informative Speaking: Julia Rachel Kuehnle – 6th Place
- IPDA Novice Division: Holly Travis – Quarterfinalist; Stevie Flynt – Octafinalist; Sean McCarthy – Octafinalist; Kasia Hayes – Top 32; Athena Kavanagh – Top 32
- IPDA Junior Varsity Division: William Bonduris – 1st Place, Junior Varsity Division Regional Champion; Mackenzie Ellis - Quarterfinalist
- IPDA Pro Division: Chad Rogers – 1st Place, Pro Division Regional Champion
- Team Debate Division: Josh McCoy and Parker Krag – 2nd Place Overall, Mississippi State Champions
- Speaker Awards: Holly Travis, Novice Division – 1st Place Speaker; William Bonduris, Junior Varsity Division – 2nd Place; Josh McCoy, Junior Varsity – 3rd Place Speaker; Parker Krag, Team – 6th Place Speaker
Mardi Gras Invitational – Louisiana State University (February 2017)
Debate Overall Sweepstakes – 1st Place
Overall Sweepstakes – 1st Place
- Novice Division: Stevie Flynt – Quarterfinalist; Luke Acuff – Semifinalist
- Junior Varsity Division: Sean McCarthy – Finalist; Josh McCoy – Semifinalist; Alicia Brown – Quarterfinalist
- Pro Division: Chuck Rogers – Quarterfinalist
- Speaker Awards: Alicia Brown, Junior Varsity - 2nd Place; Josh McCoy, Junior Varsity - 3rd Place Speaker
IPDA Nationals - Arkansas Tech University (March 2017)
- Mackenzie Ellis – Octafinalist
- Season Awards:
- William Bonduris -- 7th Place Season Long Speaker in Junior Varsity
- Josh McCoy – 9th Place Season Long Speaker in Junior Varsity
- Doug Bedsaul – 10th Place Season Long Speaker in Professional
2015-16 Season
Red River Swing (November 2015)
- Duo Interpretation – Vanessa Cotton and Zamia Mason, First Half - 6th Place; Second Half -6th Place
- Persuasive Speaking – Sean McCarthy, 4th Place, Top Novice
- IPDA Novice Division: Sean McCarthy and Parker Krag - Octafinalists.
- IPDA Speaker Awards: Parker Krag - 1st Place; Sean McCarthy – 3rd Place
Southern Forensics Championships (January 2016)
- Informative Speaking – Athena Kavanagh, Top Novice
- IPDA Professional Division - Doug Bedsaul, Mississippi state champion and 3rd Place Speaker
Volunteer Classic/Southeast Regional Debates (swing) (February 2016)
- IPDA Novice Division, First Half: Christian Bean, Quarterfinalist.
- IPDA Junior Varsity Division, First Half: Parker Krag and William Bonduris, Quarterfinalists; Sean McCarthy, Semifinalist
- Speaker Awards, First Half: Parker Krag, 2nd Place, Junior Varsity Division; Sean McCarthy, 3rd Place, Novice Division.
- IPDA Junior Varsity Division, Second Half: Parker Krag, Quarterfinalist
- Speaker Awards, Second Half: Parker Krag, 1st Place, Junior Varsity Division; William Bonduris, 2nd Place, Junior Varsity Division