UT Speech Team Wins

Texas Speech Team Wins National Tournament

The University of Texas Speech Team, directed by Randy Cox and housed in the Department of Communication Studies, travelled to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln April 1-4, 2022, where they were awarded the overall NATIONAL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP for the American Forensic Association. The team advanced 54 of its 66 individual entries into the elimination rounds (an all-time record for the contest), and 23 individual entries were advanced to the national final rounds (also an all-time record) placing in the top 6 nationally. Texas Speech was the only school to have students ranked in the national final rounds in all 11 categories of competition. The team amassed a final point total of 651.5 points (2^nd all-time), to outpace George Mason University, who was second with 394.5 points, the University of Alabama (364), Eastern Michigan University (268.5) and Bradley University (247.5). Lewis & Clark (220), Illinois State (203), the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (195.5), University of Illinois at Chicago (187), and Seton Hall (182) rounded out the top 10.

Senior Katayoun Khalilian, a Plan II/Pre-Med student, won the national championship in Extemporaneous Speaking. Two students were recognized as part of the 12 person All-American Team, seniors Erin Swearingen (Government) and Meera Sam (Sociology & Government). The team also amassed 6 students who were the national runners up in their events, meaning that by the narrowest of margins (usually by a single final round judge) they just missed winning national titles.

The team is also coached by CMS doctoral student Eva Margarita, Latin American Studies graduate student Danielle Castillo, and UT alumni Jordan Auzenne and Karon Bowers.

For complete details of individual awards and accomplishments, see the website:
https://postings.speechwire.com/r-tournament.php?tournid=12678