The Belmont Speech and Debate team successfully defended its Division II national title at the NCCFI national tournament held in March at Cedarville University. The NCCFI Is the National Christian College Forensics Invitational.
Ryan Greenawalt was tournament champion in both prose interpretation and poetry interpretation and also took fourth place in program of oral interpretation and fifth place in duo interpretation along with with Crystal Jones.
McKinley Belcher placed second in prose, third in poetry and fourth in persuasive speaking. Also placing were Chasity Gunn in impromptu speaking (sixth place) and Joy Hawkins and Sara McManigal in duo (sixth place).
In the novice division, Cindi Minnicus place third in persuasive speaking, third in impromptu speaking and fifth in program of oral interpretation.
Greenawalt, Belcher and Minnicus all earned individual sweepstakes awards. Greenawalt was fourth speaker overall, Belcher was sixth, and Minnicus was third in the novice division.
With 198 team points, this was Belmont’s best showing at a national tournament.
