TJC Speech and Debate Team returns from tournaments as double National Champions | TJC

TJC Speech and Debate Team returns from tournaments as double National Champions

The TJC Speech and Debate Team travelled to the American Forensics Association’s national tournament held April 5-9 at Colorado College.

TJC won first as the Top Community College at this prestigious tournament; and team assistant director Joan Andrews was recognized as Coach of the Year from District 3 representing Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

Then the team travelled to the Phi Rho Pi National tournament hosted April 9-14 in Daytona Beach, Florida. TJC brought home Gold Overall Sweepstakes, Silver Individual Events Sweepstakes and Gold Debate Sweepstakes in its division. 

TJC’s Alex Dickson, of Oliver, and Cooper Ezell, of Tyler, tied for second place as Top Speakers for the tournament. Team director M’Liss Hindman was recognized with the Fellowship Award for Coaches.

“We are very proud to announce the following results because this is probably the best showing by any team from TJC,” Hindman said.

Gold Winners
• Alex Dickson and Aaron Kelley, of Longview, in Parliamentary Debate
• Nick White, of Saginaw, and Cooper Ezell in Parliamentary Debate
• Alex Dickson in IPDA Debate
• Aaron Kelley in Impromptu Speaking
• Cooper Ezell in Extemporaneous Speaking

Silver Winners
• Nick White in IPDA debate
• Cooper Ezell in IPDA Debate
• Carson Moreland, of Hughes Springs, in Dramatic Interpretation
• Chris Flores, of Muleshoe, in Prose Interpretation
• Alex Dickson in Extemporaneous Speaking

Bronze Winners
• Aaron Kelley in IPDA Debate
• Nick White in Extemporaneous Speaking
• Cooper Ezell in Impromptu Speaking
• Adaeze Uche, of Mesquite, in Dramatic Interpretation
• Matt Mooneyham, of Fairfield, in Dramatic Interpretation
• Shaelyn Handy, of Fort Worth, in Prose Interpretation
• Alex Dickson in Impromptu Speaking

Overall, TJC won more than 430 awards during the year, including a Sweepstakes award at every tournament they attended except one.

“This is an amazing accomplishment when you realize that they are competing against universities at most of our tournaments,” Hindman said. “This has truly been a landmark year. We are proud of how well they represented our wonderful college.”

For more information on the TJC Speech and Debate program, go to www.tjc.edu/speech.

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