UARK Speech and Debate Earns 16 Awards

Hannah Morris

This past weekend, the UARK Speech and Debate team traveled to Shreveport, Louisiana, to compete in the 47th annual Red River Classic hosted by Louisiana State University, Shreveport.

Travelers this weekend consisted of Hadley Adkison, Savannah Barrentine, Mattthew Cook, Megan Dial, Jackson Dowler, Max Green, Luke Hubbard, Austin Keefe, James Jovicich, Molly Lay, Jacqueline Maldonado-Martinez, Gavin Michau, Rhea Neugebauer, Colten Nichols, Jaci Sabatini, Mattie Thompson, Luke Thurmon, Jack VanDyke, and Aubree Watkins.

The team broke numerous records they had set previously, sending the largest number of competitors (15) and breaking nine out of those 15, the highest since the team's reactivation in spring of 2021. This marked a level of success for the team that they have not seen at a given regular-season tournament, bringing home a total of 16 awards across the group.

In TIPDA competition, the team of Hadley Adkison and Austin Keefe went 3-1 in preliminary competition and were quarterfinalists.  

In IPDA competition:

• Jackson Dowler and Rhea Neugebauer were double-octofinalists in the Novice division. Notably, this was Dowler's first advance to the next level of competition this season, and Neugebauer's second appearance in outrounds.

• Colten Nichols was the 4th place speaker in the Novice division, as well as a semifinalist (3rd place).

• Gavin Michau was an octofinalist in the Junior Varsity divison.

• Megan Dial was a quarterfinalist in the Junior Varsity division. 

• Austin Keefe was an octofinalist in the Varsity division. 

• Luke Hubbard was 3rd place Varsity speaker and a quarterfinalist in the Varisty division.

• Hadley Adkison was the Varsity Speaking Champion, a recipient of the Pilot Award (for outstanding individual and team performance at the competition) and an octofinalist in the Varsity division. 

• Jaci Sabatini was the 4th place Professional speaker, and a semifinalist in the Professional division. 

The team as a whole was also earned a 5th Place Sweepstakes award for individual competition, and had a higher number of breaks than many of the larger teams on the circuit that were in attendance this weekend.  

The growth of the team's success can be seen when comparing the number of awards earned in their first season (2021-22) versus the number of awards earned just this year after three competitions. In 2021-22, the team earned a total of 36 awards the entire year; this year, with only three tournaments, the team as earned 36 awards. They strive to continue their success at their next tournament, the Jimmy Jingle Virutal Tournament hosted by the University of Jamestown in Jamestown, North Dakota.  

The team would like to extend their thanks to the University of Arkansas' History Department for their support. If you are interested in joining the team, please reach out to president Megan Dial at mmdial@uark.edu or coach Hannah Morris at hannahm@uark.edu.