Bring it home: Speech Team members are state champs!

The dynamic Heidelberg speaking duo of Julia Schaefer and Kelsey Stanfield secured the Ohio Forensics Association's State Champion title in the President's Division at the season-concluding 2023 State Tournament hosted by John Carroll University on February 17.

Julia, a senior integrated media and English major, earned the title of State Champion in Programmed Oral Interpretation while securing second place in Broadcasting and fourth place in Dramatic Interpretation. Kelsey, a senior English and communication major, spoke her way to fourth place in both After Dinner Speaking and Broadcasting.

The combined efforts of both students also earned the team the tournament's Quality Award, which is given to the team with the highest average number of points earned per entry.

Heidelberg Director of Forensics Dan Higgins noted, "Earning both the Quality Award and the State Championship is a spectacular feat. It speaks to both the consistency and hard work of both of these speakers all season long."

All Ohio colleges and universities are eligible to attend the annual State tournament.  "Ohio remains one of a few states in the country that is able to host a fully qualified State tournament. Forensics is alive and well in the State of Ohio and we have a great deal of which to be proud," said OFA President Mark Rittenour of the University of Akron.

Huge congrats to Heidelberg's state champs, Julia and Kelsey!