by Danial Pasho, Student Public Relations Writer
Cedarville University’s forensics team turned in a dominant weekend at the Ohio University 1804 Tournament on Jan. 23-24, winning 14 individual event titles and taking first overall in both speech and debate.
Cedarville also finished first and second overall and placed eight debaters in the top 16 out of 37.
A final-round sweep
For coach Eric Mishne, Cedarville’s director of forensics, one moment stood out: the extemporaneous speaking final, where Cedarville filled all five spots.
“That is the first time in my coaching career at Cedarville that we have swept the final round,” said Mishne. “I was able to observe that round and watch our speakers in action, and they were on fire!”
Preparation pays off
Mishne said the team’s results came from consistent preparation and noted Cedarville also had five of the top six impromptu speakers.
“We prepare for most tournaments the same way: practice!” he said.
Individual champions
Individual highlights included Nathanael Kolssak, a senior from Winnetka, Illinois, who won the tournament’s individual sweepstakes award — the top overall speaker honor — and earned three first-place finishes. Deidra Hall, a senior from Pawcatuck, Connecticut, was the debate champion and top debate speaker.
Liliana Printz, a junior from Urbana, Ohio, won first place in all four of her events and was named the Ohio state novice champion. Laura Ball, a junior from Harker Heights, Texas, added two first-place finishes.
Other event winners included Kayla Sheaffer, a junior from Tucson, Arizona, in persuasive speaking; Isaac Piper, a junior from Coatesville, Pennsylvania, in informative speaking; and Zane Enos, a sophomore from Colorado Springs, Colorado, in programmed oral interpretation.
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, 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.
