The U of A's Speech and Debate Society, represented by members Dylan Hall, Emma Powell, Ella Grannon, Izzy Swafford, Percy Blaich, Will Crews, Hayden Mittlestat, Matthew Cook, Aubree Watkins, Josh Tompkins, Lydia Lim, Luke Paulus, Cooper Young, Jordan Ellis, Vivian Wang, Sal Abdelkader, Aiden Filyaw, Brady Super and Hayden Jescheling, traveled to the University of Central Missouri this past weekend to compete in its first tournament of the season. The team saw massive success at the Missouri Mule speech and debate tournament, with the team walking away earning the First Place Debate Sweepstakes award and the Third Place Comprehensive Program award, which takes into account both debate and individual events.
- Ella Grannon, junior - Seventh place communication analysis
- Jordan Ellis, sophomore - octofinalist, novice division; quarterfinalist, TIPDA with partner Josh Tompkins
- Cooper Young, junior - quarterfinalist, novice division
- Josh Tompkins, senior - octofinalist, junior varsity division; seventh place TIPDA speaker
- Lydia Lim, senior - tie third place, junior varsity division; third place speaker, junior varsity division; quarterfinalist, TIPDA with partner Emma Powell
- Dylan Hall, senior - Champion, varsity division; fifth place speaker, varsity division; co-champion, TIPDA, with partner Izzy Swafford; ninth place TIPDA speaker
- Aubree Watkins, senior - quarterfinalist, varsity division; semifinalist, TIPDA with partner Will Crews; fifth place TIPDA speaker
- Will Crews, junior - octofinalist, varsity division; eighth place TIPDA speaker
- Emma Powell, junior - octofinalist, varsity division
- Luke Paulus, sophomore - octofinalist, varsity division; co-champion, TIPDA, with partner Hayden Mittlestat; third place TIPDA speaker
- Percy Blaich, junior - octofinalist, varsity division
Speech and Debate will next travel to Middle Tennessee State University's Pejaver Memorial Tournament Oct. 23-25, 2026. As always, the team would like to thank its sponsors, the Diane Blair Center for Southern Politics and Society, as well as the Division of Student Affairs, for their continued support to give this team the best chance at success. We appreciate you!
If you are interested in joining the Speech and Debate Society, we practice every Monday and Tuesday in Old Main 322. You can also reach out to president Dylan Hall (dah030@uark.edu) or coach Hannah Morris (hannahm@uark.edu).
Contacts
Hannah Morris, master academic adviser, Speech and Debate coach, lecturer in communication
FCAC
479-575-3707, hannahm@uark.edu