Bulldogs break onto podium at State Speech Tournament

Concordia University, Nebraska Speech and Debate team broke onto the podium at the 2026 Kansas-Nebraska Intercollegiate Forensics Association (KNIFA) State Tournament. The team broke 15 entries across 8 events. Concordia took 19 students with 43 entries across all events, which is a new record for team participation. The event took place in Manhattan, Kansas, on February 14. 

Junior Casey Perlinger-Jett said, “KNIFA always feels like the height of the speech season where everyone brings all of their events. This year, it also seemed like everyone brought their best act. As a team, we’ve put our best into our speeches all year, and it showed in the results at KNIFA. We didn’t just bring home awards; we brought home a foundation that should encourage this team for years to come.”

Concordia’s team made up four out of six finalists in ADS. This is the highest number that the team has ever had in a final round. In addition, the team also has three new state champion titles in Impromptu, Informative and Prose. 

Senior Brynn Holtemeier received the Spirit of KNIFA award with five nominations, which is the most in Concordia’s history. The award highlights students who have a positive impact on circuit culture. Senior Eden Lehr earned a spot in Interstate Oratory (IO) to be one of two representatives from the state of Nebraska at the National Interstate Oratory competition in Gainesville, Florida, in April. This is the first time that Concordia has had an IO representative. 

“We fought hard in this tournament, and throughout the year, to get our students to the top. It was our goal from the beginning of the season to break into a podium position, and I’m so happy with our placements. We really came into our own this year. This is the best we’ve ever done in recent memory. The students practiced hard, performed hard, and gave it their all. I look forward to taking this momentum into our national tournaments in March and April.”

“It was so touching to be one of the winners of the Spirit of KNIFA,” said Holtemeier. “It’s always fun to support one another and other competitors around the circuit as well.”

Head Coach Malia Frerking said that the team did well all year and that she looks forward to taking the team’s momentum forward through the rest of the year as well as the coming seasons. 

“We fought hard in this tournament, and throughout the year, to get our students to the top. It was our goal from the beginning of the season to break into a podium position, and I’m so happy with our placements. We really came into our own this year. This is the best we’ve ever done in recent memory. The students practiced hard, performed hard and gave it their all. I look forward to taking this momentum into our national tournaments in March and April.” 

Students that competed in KNIFA include:

Quinlan Hendrickson, Senior

Brynn Holtemeier, Senior

Matthew Koenig, Senior

Eden Lehr, Senior

Esther Molina, Senior

Americ Bergstrom, Junior

Emily Bonilla, Junior

Marlie Mundt, Junior

Casey Perlinger-Jett, Junior

Angelica Vazquez-Saenz, Junior

Daisy Calloway, Sophomore

Duncan Carrasco, Sophomore

Jacy Jackson, Sophomore

Aidan McKinnon, Sophomore

Isabella Ausk, Freshman

Jonah Benton, Freshman

Cayden Carrasco, Freshman

Callum Lantrip, Freshman

David Rodriguez, Freshman

Final Rankings

Spirit of KNIFA: Brynn Holtemeier

After Dinner Speaking: Americ Bergstrom (6^th place), David Rodriguez (4^th place), Casey Perlinger-Jett (3^rdplace), Eden Lehr (2^nd place)

Communication Analysis: Esther Molina (6^th place)

Duo Interpretation: Duncan Carrasco & Casey Perlinger-Jett (6^th place)

Extemporaneous Speaking: Aiden McKinnon (2^nd place)

Impromptu Speaking: Jacy Jackson (5^th place), Aiden McKinnon (4^th place), Jonah Benton (champion)

Informative Speaking: Casey Perlinger-Jett (5^th place), Daisy Calloway (champion)

Interstate Oratory: Eden Lehr (3^rd place, Nebraska representative at IO Nationals)

Prose Interpretation: Isabella Ausk (6^th place), Angelica Vasquez-Saenz (champion)

Team Placement: 2^nd

Concordia University, Nebraska's forensics program is committed to providing a team-centered and supportive environment where students can use competitive public speaking as a context for forming lasting friendships while practicing the foundational habits of a liberal arts education, including empathy, wisdom, moderation and courage. They provide a safe space for students of all backgrounds to share messages they are passionate about in an effort to make positive changes in the world, the community and themselves.