CMU Forensics Captures National Championship, Winning Two Divisions at NEDA Nationals
Program surges under new leadership, earning top honors and multiple individual titles
Central Michigan University made history over the weekend, winning the National Educational Debate Association (NEDA) National Championship for the first time and taking first place in two of the tournament’s four divisions. The team traveled to Sinclair College to compete against nine schools from across the country, including Wayne State University, Penn State, and the University of Dayton.
A breakthrough year for CMU
CMU earned the National Championship Sweepstakes award, given to the school with the highest overall point total at the tournament. The team also finished second in the year-long sweepstakes, narrowly behind Wayne State University.
This season marked a dramatic transformation for the program. Under the leadership of new Director of Forensics and Assistant Professor Dr. Ryan Corso-Gonzales, the team expanded from just three members at the start of the year to eighteen competitors at Nationals. CMU was the only school to win two national titles, sweeping both Open Public Forum and Novice Public Forum.
Dr. Corso-Gonzales was also elected President of NEDA and received the President’s Award for his contributions to the circuit.
Major tournament wins
Open Public Forum
• Champions: Mason P. (junior) & Teagan K. (senior), defeating an 11–1 Grove City team in finals
• 4th Place: Samantha P. (sophomore) & Niclas A. (freshman)
• 2nd-Place Speaker: Mason P.
Novice Public Forum
• Champions: Sapphire C. (sophomore) & James B. (freshman)
• 2nd-Place Speaker: Raegan D. (freshman)
• 5th-Place Speaker: Sapphire C.
Rapid fire success
Open Rapid Fire
• 3rd Place & 2nd-Place Speaker: Torren R. (freshman)
• Quarterfinalist & 5th-Place Speaker: Audrey K. (junior)
Novice Rapid Fire
• Quarterfinalists: Joseph M. (5th place) and Zach T. (6th place), both sophomores
A strong finish and a promising future
The championship marks a defining moment for CMU Forensics, closing the season with a dominant performance against some of the nation’s strongest programs. With Dr. Corso-Gonzales now serving as NEDA president and governor of the Greater Northeast Pi Kappa Delta province, the program is positioned for continued growth and national prominence.
