SVSU speakers post strong start to competitive speech season

January 9, 2026

SVSU speakers post strong start to competitive speech season

Six qualify for national competition in April

By the conclusion of the fall Michigan Intercollegiate Speaking League (MISL) tournament, six Saginaw Valley State University students had qualified for the national competition, which will be held in April.

SVSU hosted the fall Michigan Intercollegiate Speech League (MISL) tournament in December, coming out on top of the seven-team lineup, followed by Eastern Michigan University in second place, Wayne State University in third, Oakland Community College in fourth and Northwood University in fifth. Ferris State University and Central Michigan University also participated.

Now in its 25th season, the SVSU competitive speech team is coached by Amy Pierce, associate professor of communication, and Ryan Rigda, lecturer of communication.

Ten SVSU students competed in the tournament, delivering strong performances:

• Lexy Andres, an environmental science major from New Lothrop: third place in Extemporaneous Speaking*, fourth place in Impromptu Speaking*, sixth place in Informative Speaking
• Ava Cannon, a nursing major from Clio: second place in After Dinner Speaking
• Maia Clynick, a psychology major from Saginaw: third place in Impromptu Sales
• Emily Drzewicki, a communication major from Bay City: first place in Persuasive Speaking*
• Zachary Duffet, a social work major from Birch Run: sixth place in Prose Interpretation
• Ethan Jennings, a communication major from Marquette: seventh place in Dramatic Interpretation
• Cody Power, a political science major from New Baltimore: first place in Rhetorical Criticism*, third place in Persuasive Speaking*
• Hannah Schalk, an elementary education major from Reese: first place in Dramatic Interpretation*
• McKenzie Shagena, a political science major from Fort Gratiot: second place in Impromptu Speaking*, fourth place in Extemporaneous Speaking*, fourth place in Persuasive Speaking*
• Nicole Yapp, an elementary education major from Wixom: second place in Persuasive Speaking*, fourth place in Prose Interpretation*

* denotes a new qualification for the national tournament.

"We are so proud and excited at the early success this team has achieved," Pierce said. "Many of our students were competing for the first time and in multiple events against more seasoned students. Their performances demonstrated outstanding preparation, confidence and teamwork!"

During the competition, students competed in 12 individual events centered around the theme "Winter Wonderland.":

• After Dinner Speaking
• Dramatic Interpretation
• Duo Interpretation
• Extemporaneous Speaking
• Impromptu Sales
• Impromptu Speaking
• Informative Speaking
• Persuasive Speaking
• Poetry Interpretation
• Program Oral Interpretation
• Prose Interpretation
• Rhetorical Criticism

With the exception of Impromptu Sales, these events are regularly part of National Forensic Association and American Forensic Association competitions.

Judges for the event included eight SVSU alumni, some of whom participated in competitive speech as students. They were Samantha Burnette, Jessica Carpenter-Suitor, Jill Castle, Aaron Honeman, Tiler Jewell, Caeley Novak, Isaiah Suitor and Nimnan Wuyep.