The Northwood University Competitive Speech Team competed in the Pi Kappa Delta (PKD) National Tournament March 20-23 hosted by Indiana University-Purdue. Pi Kappa Delta is an honorary nationwide forensics association and Northwood University was recognized this year for 10 years of Pi Kappa Delta membership.Unlike most national tournaments which sort schools into divisions by size, the Pi Kappa Delta tournament places all schools in a single division. There were over 600 competitors with over 2,000 entries. Out of the 79 teams present from all across the country, Northwood competed head-to-head against 68 teams, taking 19th place. Coach Andy Rapp stated, “It would be like Northwood basketball finishing in the top 20 over all in the nation, not just division two.” This bumps the speech team’s season standing to 137 wins and 66 losses.
Five competitors broke to quarterfinals on Saturday: Kirk Longuski, a junior from Bay City, extemporaneous speaking and impromptu duo; Joshua Gammon, a junior from Midland, extemporaneous speaking and impromptu duo; McKenzie Terwillegar, a sophomore from Highland, extemporaneous speaking and rhetorical criticism; David Valentine II, a senior from Detroit, impromptu speaking; and Cherell Granger, a sophomore from Gaylord, impromptu speaking.
Several team members were also recognized with an award of excellence for being in the top 30 percent in their event: Miranda Kennedy, a sophomore from Unionville, impromptu speaking; Kirk Longuski, impromptu speaking; Joshua Gammon, impromptu speaking; McKenzie Terwillegar, impromptu speaking; and Cherell Granger, informative.
The Competitive Speech Team will complete their season April 18-21 at the National Forensics Association National Tournament hosted by Eastern Michigan University.
