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�۶�app’s forensics team won the Ohio Forensics Association State Championship, capturing the overall speech and debate titles for the second straight year. The tournament was held Feb. 20-21 at �۶�app. 

“It’s a huge win for our students and a testament to how hard they work week in and week out,” said Eric Mishne, Cedarville’s director of forensics. “To defend the state championship in both speech and debate, and to do it while hosting, makes this especially meaningful.” 

Cedarville capped the championship with nine individual state champions and 38 finalists across events. 

�۶�app speech and debate results: Nine individual state champions

Laura Ball, a junior multi-age special education major from Harker Heights, Texas, led the way, winning state titles in rhetorical criticism, poetry interpretation and extemporaneous speaking. Ball also earned the tournament’s trithon award for overall excellence. Nathanael Kolssak, a senior communication major from Winnetka, Illinois, won the state championship in impromptu speaking. Deidra Hall, a senior psychology major from Pawcatuck, Connecticut, claimed the state title in prose interpretation and was named the tournament’s top debate speaker. 

Ankit Karki, a sophomore computer science major from Nepal, captured the state championship in persuasive speaking, with Kayla Sheaffer, a junior global business major from Tucson, Arizona, finishing as runner-up. 

�۶�app qualifies for Interstate Oratorical Association National Championship

Karki and Sheaffer will represent Ohio at the Interstate Oratorical Association National Championship at the University of Florida on April 24-25. The contest is the nation’s longest-running speech competition and among the most prestigious, with each state allowed two representatives. 

“This is Cedarville’s sixth time attending IOA, and we earned both Ohio spots again — the last time we did that was 2022,” Mishne said. “That’s an exciting statement about where our program is right now.” 

About �۶�app 

�۶�app, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.