The Tyler Junior College Speech and Debate team recently wrapped up the fall semester by bringing home sweepstakes honors from back-to-back tournaments.
TJC finished second in Overall Sweepstakes at the Texas Intercollegiate Forensics Association (TIFA) State Tournament, held Nov. 1-3 at Southern Methodist University, with 18 schools from three different states competing.
The team then traveled to Houston for the Lone Star Swing Tournaments, held Nov. 8-10, hosted at Lone Star College’s North Harris and University Park campuses, where they tied with Texas State University for second place in Individual Sweepstakes and placed third in Overall Sweepstakes.
“We are thrilled to announce that TJC once again was able to win a sweepstakes award at every tournament we attended this semester,” said M’Liss Hindman, TJC speech and debate director. “That means that we defeated many universities, including Southern Methodist University, North Texas, Mary Hardin Baylor and Texas A&M.”
Team members are: Mackenzie Clayton of Van, Daniela Juarez of Mesquite, Ja’Quacy Minter of Mount Pleasant, Gabe Mullen of Tyler, Kaden Phinney of Whitesboro, and Johnny Vassalo of Mesquite.
TIFA – TJC results for Day 1
IPDA Debate: Daniela Juarez, second place
Dramatic Interpretation:
• Johnny Vasallo, first place
• Ja’Quacy Minter, third place
• Gabe Mullen, fourth place
• Mackenzie Clayton, fifth place
Prose Interpretation Top Novice: Gabe Mullen
Poetry Interpretation Top Novice: Ja’Quacy Minter
Poetry Interpretation: Johnny Vasallo, fifth place
TIFA – TJC results for Day 2
Poetry Interpretation:
• Johnny Vasallo, first place (finished qualification for nationals)
• Ja’Quacy Minter, second place
Dramatic Interpretation:
• Johnny Vasallo, third place (finished qualification for nationals)
• Ja’Quacy Minter, fourth place
• Mackenzie Clayton, fifth place
Prose Interpretation: Gabe Mullen, sixth place
Extemporaneous Speaking: Daniela Juarez, fifth place
Impromptu Speaking: Daniela Juarez, seventh place
Individual Events Sweepstakes: TJC, third place
TIFA Swing Sweepstakes: TJC, fourth place
Lone Star Swing – TJC results for Day 1
Parliamentary Debate: Lauren Nichols And Daniela Juarez, semifinalists
IPDA Debate:
• Lauren Nichols, semifinalist
• Kaden Phinney, quarterfinalist
• Daniela Juarez, quarterfinalist
Top Debate Speakers:
• Lauren Nichols, third place
• Daniela Juarez, fourth place
Prose: Samantha Rodden, seventh place
Poetry:
• Ja’Quacy Minter, first place (finished qualification for nationals)
• Mackenzie Clayton, fifth place
Dramatic Interpretation:
• Ja’Quacy Minter, second place
• Mackenzie Clayton, fourth place
Lone Star Swing – TJC results for Day 2
Extemporaneous: Daniela Juarez, fourth place
Impromptu:
• Lauren Nichols, third place
• Johnny Vasallo, sixth place
Prose:
• Samantha Rodden, fourth place
• Gabe Mullen, sixth place
Poetry:
• Mackenzie Clayton, second place
• Adaeze Uche, third place
• Samantha Rodden, fifth place
Informative: Daniela Juarez, third place
Dramatic Interpretation:
• Ja’Quacy Minter, first place (finished qualification for nationals)
• Gabe Mullen, second place (finished qualification for nationals)
• Mackenzie Clayton, fourth place
• Giovanni Lua, seventh place
About the program
The TJC Speech and Debate program helps students navigate diverse communication styles, think critically to make well-reasoned decisions, and develop high-impact presentations that will give them an edge both professionally and personally.
TJC offers smaller classes with more personal attention by instructors, with greater opportunity to perform and compete. Hindman has more than 40 years of experience and is recognized with state and national awards as an outstanding educator, and Assistant Coach Joan Andrews is a former national champion in various events.
The TJC Speech and Debate team has been in existence for more than 60 years and is among the very first to compete in collegiate forensics in the state of Texas. The program has a tradition of excellence, with more sweepstakes awards than any other community college in Texas.
The team travels to competitive tournaments, competing against universities as well as community colleges. Most students compete in four to six events per academic year, receiving excellent training in areas ranging from interpretation to debate.
Speech and debate students also may be involved in TJC’s top-quality theater productions. Students who compete regularly with the team are actively recruited by four-year schools for scholarship programs in both competitive speech and theater.
For more information, go to TJC.edu/speech.