Capping one of their best competitive seasons ever, the Hillsdale College Forensics Team performed exceedingly well at the National Tournament for Pi Kappa Delta, the National Honorary Organization for Collegiate Forensics, hosted by Mt. Hood Community College in Portland, Oregon. The Debate Squad is once again the National Champion for Pi Kappa Delta, winning the overall sweepstakes award for Debate and earning the Rating of “Top Superior,” placing 1st out of 73 schools entered in Debate. Additionally, the Individual Events Team performed exceedingly well, earning a Rating of “Superior” and placing 4th out of 66 schools entered in Individual Events, up from 18th in 2009. The combined scores of the two teams earned Hillsdale an additional Rating of “Superior” and ranked Hillsdale College as the 3rd place overall Forensics program out of the 84 schools competing at Pi Kappa Delta, following up their 6th place overall finish in 2009 and their 9th place overall finish in 2007 (PKD Nationals are once every two years).

Students also racked up an impressive array of individual awards. Pi Kappa Delta recognizes every competitor who finishes in the top 30% of an event with a designation of "Good," the top 20% with a designation of "Excellent," and the top 10% as "Superior." Here every single member of the Forensics program truly excelled, with Hillsdale competitors placing "Good" or higher in 58 of their 75 entries, including 25 "Good," 20 "Excellent," and 13 "Superior" ratings. Detailed information concerning the highlights of these Individual Awards is included below for the teams.

DEBATE (Across all formats of Debate, the teams compiled a record of 76 wins and 32 losses in preliminary rounds. Twenty out of 24 slots earned a rating of "Good" or higher.)

The team's work in Lincoln-Douglas Debate was highlighted by Freshman Bryan Brooks, who won the Jr. Division of Lincoln-Douglas Debate. Freshmen Ian Hanchett and Lauren Holt also both made it to the Quarter-Finals. In the Open Division of L-D Debate, sophomore Ian Blodger made it into Quarter-Finals.

Parliamentary Debate was highlighted by freshmen Bryan Brooks and Erin Mundahl, who ended up in 2nd place out of 39 teams in the JV Division. In the Novice Division, freshmen Lauren Holt and Ian Hanchett advanced to Quarter-Finals.

In Open IPDA Debate, junior Elliot Gaiser finished prelims seeded 4th out of 114 competitors and made it to Quarter-Finals. Senior Joshua Herring participated in the IPDA Debate style for the first time, and took home the 2nd place trophy in a field of 89 debaters in the Novice Division. Herring was joined by senior Blake Faulkner, who broke to Quarter-Finals.

INDIVIDUAL EVENTS (Across the 14 categories of IE, Hillsdale students earned a rating of "Good" or higher in 38 out of 51 slots.)

In Impromptu Speaking, which was the largest event at the tournament with 189 entries, three Hillsdale students earned ratings of "Superior." Senior Sarah Rogers finished in 3rd place, sophomore Andrew Dykstal finished 8th, and freshman Brandon Butz finished 17th.

In Editorial Impromptu Speaking, which featured 119 competitors, Junior Nadia Spotts earned a "Superior" rating and finished in 4th place overall.

Three members of the IE team served double-duty: Senior Joshua Herring, junior Blake Faulkner, and sophomore Andrew Dykstal all competed for both IE and Debate!

THE TEAM (A list of each Hillsdale College student who attended the tournament, their year in school, and a list of their recognitions from the National Tournament)

Ian Blodger (SO): "Good" (1)
Bryan Brooks (FR): "Superior" (2)
Brandon Butz (FR): "Superior" (1), "Good" (1)
William Cooney (SR): "Excellent" (1), "Good" (1)
Stephen Davis (SO): "Good" (1)
Andrew Dykstal (SO): "Superior" (1), "Excellent" (3), "Good" (4)
Blake Faulkner (JR): "Superior" (1) "Excellent" (2) "Good" (2)
Elliot Gaiser (JR): "Superior" (1)
Ian Hanchett (FR): "Superior" (1), "Excellent" (1)
John Hann (SR): "Excellent" (2), "Good" (3)
Joshua Herring (SR): "Superior" (1), "Excellent" (3), "Good" (2)
Lauren Holt (FR): "Superior" (2)
Amanda Lack (JR): "Excellent" (2), "Good" (4)
Erin Mundahl (FR): "Superior" (1), "Excellent" (1)
Nathan Orlando (SR): "Excellent" (2)
Sarah Rogers (SR): "Superior" (1), "Excellent" (2), "Good" (2)
Nadia Spotts (JR): "Superior" (1), "Excellent" (1), "Good" (4)

THE COACHES

Hillsdale Forensics was happy to welcome back two alumni, Andrew Jones, '06, and Kate Martin, '10, both of whom served as judges for the tournament and also performed in a special alumni showcase. Steven Lack, the father of Hillsdale competitor Amanda, also joined the team as a judge for the tournament.

The Debate Team is led by Dr. Matthew Doggett, who is in his first year with the program. The Individual Events Team is led by Professor Matthew Warner, who is in his third year with the Program. Senior Kaelynn Van Buren serves as an assistant student coach for the program. Dr. James M. Brandon is the director of the Forensics Program, which is housed in the Theatre and Speech Department.