The Concordia University, Nebraska forensics team took first place in debate sweepstakes for small schools at the National Christian College Forensics Invitational tournament held March 7–9.
The first place finish was the result of high finishes by a number of Concordia students. Junior Dustin Haider (Rexburg, Idaho) and sophomore Jared Olson (Milford, Neb.) advanced to the quarter-finals in open parliamentary debate. Freshman Tyler Walworth (Kearney, Mo.) took second place in novice Lincoln-Douglas debate and was the first place novice speaker. As a team, he and his partner from Concordia University-Irvine took second place in novice parliamentary debate and Walworth was named the first place speaker in the event.
In the open division of individual events, junior Rachel Schroeder (Okarche, Okla.) took fourth place in faith literature and Haider took fifth place in persuasive speaking. In the novice division, freshman Katy Munson (Princeton, Ill.) took fourth place in faith literature and fifth place in persuasive speaking. Freshman Sara Holle (Maryville, Kan.) took first place as a novice in after dinner speaking, and Walworth took second place as a novice in impromptu speaking.
Freshman Sara Agee (Ogden, Utah) also competed in individual events.
The competition was held at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. Some of the other competing teams included Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.), Biola University (Calif.), Cedarville University (Ohio), Concordia University Irvine (Calif.), California Baptist University (Calif.), St. Mary’s College (Calif.), Bethel University (Minn.), Kansas Wesleyan University (Kan.) and Grove City College (Pa.).