SCSU Speech and Debate

Last weekend, the SCSU Speech & Debate Team competed at the NOF National Speech & Debate Championship Tournament. The NOF (National Online Forensics) National Championship is a compressive, online, culminating, national forensics tournament.

Matt Olson—placed Gold in the tournament (top 20%; IPDA debate)
Bailey Stalmer—placed sixth place in debate speaker points (parliamentary debate)

+ Several members of the team will participate in Model UN in New York City, April 6-10.
+ The program will sponsor an SCSU Speech & Debate Showcase on Wednesday, April 15 at 3:00 pm in Atwood. This event is free and open to all.
+ Four members of the SCSU Speech & Debate program will present as part of an exhibition debate during the Student Research Colloquium on Friday, April 17th.
+ SCSU Speech & Debate will host a banquet and game night on Friday, May 1, starting at 6:00 pm in the Riverview Building, room 207. All are welcome.

The team attended the Parliamentary League of the Upper-Midwest (PLUM) #5 debate tournament at Bethany Lutheran College last week. The students enjoyed the debate topics and had a wonderful time. Team placings are listed below.

Team Debate—Tarik Alduri & Travis Schnoover, 1st Place
Team Debate—Bailey Stalmer & Emily Rouse (BLC), 2nd Place
Team Debate—Raegan Lundblad & Matt Olson, 3rd Place
Debate Speaker Points—Tarik Alduri, 3rd Place
Debate Speaker Points—Matt Olson, 4th Place
Debate Speaker Points—Travis Schnoover, 6th Place
Debate Speaker Points—Abby Kirton, 8th Place
Also competing this past weekend: Team Debate—Eleanor Knight & Abby Kirton

Next up: Nationals and on-campus, showcase performances.

Eleven students took on 16 events representing St. Cloud State University at this year’s MN State Championships!

Seniors Sid Allen and Tarik Alduri received MN All-State Awards for their academic and speech success, along with leadership and community service.

Two SCSU teams (Sid Allen/Tarik Alduri and Travis Schnoover/Matt Olson) closed out parliamentary debate competition. Tarik Alduri was awarded first place in debate speaker points. Several students advanced to final rounds in their individual events—see below.

The team is now preparing for the national tournament and upcoming showcase events. Congrats to all the Talking Huskies on a great state tournament!

Placings:
MN All-State Team—Sid Allen
MN All-State Team—Tarik Alduri
Team Debate—Sid Allen & Tarik Alduri, 1st Place (closed out tournament)
Debate Speaker Points—Tarik Alduri, 1st Place
Team Debate—Travis Schnoover & Matt Olson, 1st Place (closed out tournament)
Dramatic Interpretation—Grace Loidolt, 2nd Place
Poetry Interpretation—Grace Loidolt, 3rd Place
Extemporaneous Speaking—Riley Dahlberg, 4th Place
Debate Speaker Points—Abby Kirton, 4th Place
Team Debate—Eleanor Knight & Riley Dahlberg, 5th Place

School Sweepstakes—St. Cloud State University, 4th Place

Also competing this past weekend:
Informative Speaking: Sarah Keute
Communication Analysis: Riley Dahlberg
Extemporaneous Speaking: Abby Kirton, Sid Allen, Tarik Alduri
Impromptu Speaking: Eleanor Knight, Matt Olsen, Travis Schnoover, Cameron Mau
Team Debate: Bailey Stalmer & Abby Kirton

Last weekend, the MN Omnicron Chapter of Pi Kappa Delta, SCSU Speech & Debate, and the Judy C. Pearson Department of Communication Studies hosted our annual Icebox Classic Speech & Debate Tournament. A special thank you to all judges who made this event possible! As a team, SCSU won 4th place overall in team sweepstakes.

St. Cloud State University competitors who won awards in parliamentary debate and individual events are the following:
• Dramatic Interpretation: Grace Loidolt (2nd Place)
• Team Debate: Travis Schnoover & Matt Olson (3rd Place and Top Novice Team)
• Communication Analysis: Riley Dahlberg (4th Place)
• Poetry Interpretation: Grace Loidolt (4th Place)
• Impromptu Speaking: Riley Dahlberg (5th Place)
• Team Debate: Eleanor Knight & Riley Dahlberg (5th Place)
• Debate Speaker Points—Riley Dahlberg (6th Place)
• Debate Speaker Points—Matt Olsen (9th Place)

Our annual Icebox Classic Speech & Debate Tournament is coming up soon! Join us on Friday-Saturday, February 6-7--detailed instructions and training will be provided. Please reply by Tuesday, February 3 at 5:00 pm. If you have questions, feel free to DM us. Thanks!

The team is off to an excellent start this spring semester. This past weekend, several members competed in two tournaments at Concordia—results are listed below. They also staffed an information table at SCSU's Sidestreet activities fair. Next up, we’re proud to host our annual Icebox Classic tournament on Friday and Saturday, February 6–7.

Results from VFL Tournament #3, January 23, 2026
Impromptu Speaking—Tarik Alduri, 2nd Place
Extemporaneous Speaking—Tarik Alduri, 3rd Place
Extemporaneous Speaking—Riley Dahlbrg, 4th Place
Impromptu Speaking—Riley Dahlberg, 4th Place
Impromptu Speaking—Eleanor Knight, 5th Place

VFL Tournament #4, January 24, 2026
Extemporaneous Speaking—Riley Dahlbrg, 1st Place
Debate Speaker Points—Tarik Alduri, 2nd Place
Team Debate—Sid Allen & Tarik Alduri, 3rd Place
Impromptu Speaking—Eleanor Knight, 6th Place

Join us for our first new members' meeting of the season on Wednesday, September 10 at 6:30 pm in the Riverview building, room 205 (If you can't make the gathering, contact us for next steps). All are welcome. Hope to see you on Wednesday!

We will be hosting our annual Icebox Classic Speech & Debate Tournament on Friday-Saturday, January 31-February 1. If you are interested in judging, or know of someone who might be interested, please reply by Wednesday, January 29 at 5:00 pm. Detailed instructions and training will be provided. If you have questions, feel free to DM us. Thanks!

We will be hosting our annual Icebox Classic Speech & Debate Tournament on Friday-Saturday, February 2-3, 2024. If you are interested in judging, or know of someone who might be interested, please reply by Wednesday, January 31 at 5:00 pm. Detailed instructions and training will be provided. ***Our greatest need for additional judges is during the final rounds on Saturday (1:30 and 3:00 pm) ***The tournament pays $10 per round judged***. If you have questions, feel free to DM us. Thanks!