Concordia Nebraska speech and debate team wraps up successful semester

The spring semester let Concordia University, Nebraska’s Speech and Debate team see the payoff of the promising fall semester results. The team had been consistently ranking in the top spots at tournaments and doing very well as a team. Behind the scenes, the students were putting in a lot of work refining their pieces. The debate team worked on skill building and presentation of ideas to hone their persuasive capabilities. All of their work culminated in the team earning a second place rank at the state tournament, three state champion rankings and a spirit of KNIFA winner.  

“With all but one year of my collegiate speech and debate career already in the books, if there was one aspect of the team that I’ve always noticed, it’s the improvement,” said junior Casey Perlinger-Jett of North Platte, Nebraska. “Especially this year, it seems that everyone is always looking for ways to better the team as a whole. This year was a major success for the team, and I can’t wait to see what next year brings!”

“This was a banner year for the team. I am so proud of the work that everyone put in. It was also fun to see much improvement in only my second year as the head coach. Getting three state champions, an Interstate Oratory representative, and NCCFI champion and an AFA semi-finalist are huge accomplishments on their own, much less in a single season. I am excited about the direction that the team is headed, and the culture and work ethic that we are developing together.” 

The success at state gave the team a lot of momentum as they worked towards further developing the team for nationals. Speech and Debate competes in both the National Christian College Forensics Invitational (NCCFI) and the American Forensics Association – National Speech Tournament (AFA-NST) each year. The NCCFI is a smaller, debate-oriented tournament that offers individual event competition, and the latter is one of the two largest national tournaments in the country, offering only speech competition. 

In order to qualify for AFA-NST, speech competitors must make it to the final round of an event and rank twice in the top half.  Many of Concordia’s team members had already qualified in the fall, but they had an additional six events that qualified to nationals in the spring. The Bulldogs had a total of 27 entries that qualified. 

The Bulldogs Forensics team was one of 14 schools to attend NCCFI March 27-29 in Spokane, Washington. Thirteen students competed in 26 speech events and two styles of debate. Junior and first-year competitor Jonah Benton of Castle Rock, Colorado, was a finalist in both Extemporaneous Speaking and Impromptu Speaking. Junior Aidan McKinnon of Grand Island, Nebraska, was a semi-finalist in Impromptu Speaking. Sophomore Daisy Calloway of Overland Park, Kansas, was a finalist in After Dinner Speaking and Informative Speaking and was the national champion in Homiletics. This is the first time that Concordia Nebraska has had a national champion at NCCFI. The Bulldogs were also the two-time champions of Parliamentary Debate, with Aidan McKinnon and Jonah Benton winning finals on a 2-1 decision. The team left the tournament in fifth place, which is the team’s highest rank ever at this event. 

McKinnon credited his and Benton’s win to the work and support of their team and coaches. 

“This speech and debate season, I was blessed to be poured into by our team and coaches. Without their support, incredible feedback and encouragement, I couldn’t have dreamed of winning another parliamentary national title or placing second in extemporaneous speaking at state. Debating this season with my partner Jonah Benton was something I looked forward to every week.” 

The team also attended the AFA-NST April 3-6 in Portland, Oregon. The Bulldogs were one of 60 teams to attend. The AFA-NST does not compete in divisions, so teams compete against schools of varying sizes. Concordia Nebraska had eight students with 24 qualified entries across the 11 events and scored points in 10 of the events. 

Sophomore Duncan Carrasco of Sidney, Nebraska, and freshman Isabella Ausk of Fairbury, Nebraska, were next-in for quarterfinals in Duo Interpretation. The Bulldogs also had their first semi-finalist in Program of Oral Interpretation, senior Esther Molina of Stanton, Nebraska. The team has only had one other semi-finalist in the program’s history, a Duo team in 2024. Concordia Nebraska left the tournament ranked 23rd in the country. 

On April 25-26, senior Eden Lehr of Blair, Nebraska, competed in the Interstate Oratory Association Competition, having earned the right to represent the state of Nebraska at the state tournament in February. She was one of two representatives for the state, and it was the first time Concordia Nebraska had a representative at the event. 

“Getting to represent Nebraska and the Bulldogs at the Interstate Oratorical Contest was an amazing experience to have in my final year of speech,” said Lehr. “I am so proud of all that the team has accomplished throughout the season, and it has been such a blessing to learn and compete with the team.” 

Head Coach Malia Frerking was very happy with the team’s performance and their progress over the year and is excited to see that progress continue. 

“This was a banner year for the team. I am so proud of the work that everyone put in. It was also fun to see much improvement in only my second year as the head coach. Getting three state champions, an Interstate Oratory representative, and NCCFI champion and an AFA semi-finalist are huge accomplishments on their own, much less in a single season. I am excited about the direction that the team is headed and the culture and work ethic that we are developing together.” 

National Competition Participation 

Participants and events at NCCFI 

Jonah Benton, junior, Castle Rock, Colorado, EXT, IMP, NPDA 

Americ Bergstrom, junior, Funk, Nebraska, ADS, INFO 

Emily Bonilla, junior, Geneva, Nebraska, HOM, PER 

Daisy Calloway, sophomore, Overland Park, Kansas, ADS, HOM, INFO 

Acacia Carlson, sophomore, Pleasant Dale, Nebraska, CA, FLIT 

Cayden Carrasco, junior, Sidney, Nebraska, DI, HOM 

Quinlan Hendrickson, senior, Lincoln, Nebraska, EXT, NPDA, PER 

Jacy Jackson, sophomore, Sioux City, Iowa, IMP, INFO, NPDA 

Matthias Knerl, freshman, Tekamah, Nebraska, NPDA 

Callum Lantrip, freshman, Fort Wayne, Indiana, EXT, IPDA 

Aidan McKinnon, sophomore, Grand Island, Nebraska, EXT, IMP, NPDA 

Marlie Mundt, junior, Marquette, Nebraska, PER 

Casey Perlinger-Jett, junior, North Platte, Nebraska, ADS, DI, EXT, IMP, INFO, NPDA 

Participants and events at AFA-NST 

Isabella Ausk, freshman, Fairbury, Nebraska, DI, DUO, POE, PRO 

Duncan Carrasco, sophomore, Sidney, Nebraska, DUO, DUO 

Brynn Holtmeier, senior, Tobias, Nebraska, CA, DI, INFO, POI, PRO 

Eden Lehr, senior, Blair, Nebraska, ADS, CA, PER 

Esther Molina, senior, Stanton, Nebraska, CA, POI 

Casey Perlinger-Jett, junior, North Platte, Nebraska, ADS, DUO, EXT, IMP, INFO 

David Rodriguez, freshman, Norfolk, Nebraska, ADS, DI 

Angelica Vazquez-Saenz, junior, Wallace, Nebraska, PRO 

Events Key 

ADS – After Dinner Speaking 

CA – Communication Analysis 

DI – Drama Interpretation 

DUO – Duo Interpretation 

EXT – Extemporaneous Speaking 

IMP – Impromptu Speaking 

INFO – Informative Speaking 

PER – Persuasive Speaking 

POE – Poetry Interpretation 

POI – Program of Oral Interpretation 

PRO – Prose Interpretation 

FLIT – Interpretation of Faith Literature 

HOM – Homiletic Speaking 

Concordia University, Nebraska's forensics program is committed to providing a team-centered and supportive environment where you 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. Learn more here.