Ann Arbor Times

Eastern Michigan University (EMU) has achieved a third-place finish at the National Forensics Association National Tournament held in Detroit from April 17 to April 21, 2025. Competing against 53 colleges and universities from 23 states, EMU's Forensics team has reinforced its standing in the competitive speaking and performance arena.

Nineteen EMU students participated in over 80 performances at the event, with 54 advancing to elimination rounds. Notably, all students competing in extemporaneous and persuasive speaking advanced past the initial stage, underlining the program's quality. This success follows a fifth-place finish at the American Forensics Association Competition.

Bill Heinze, director of Forensics at EMU's School of Communication, Media and Theatre Arts, credited six senior team leaders for their dedication, commenting, “This year, the team was led by six seniors who put in hours practicing and helping their teammates.” Heinze added, “I believe the team's most recent success can be attributed to the support of staff and alumni.”

The team excelled against strong competitors, including prestigious universities such as the University of California, Berkeley and Rice University. Highlights of the tournament include top finishes by team members across various categories.

Caroline Buxton emerged as the Novice National Champion in Pros Interpretation. Izzy Drummer and Sasha Greer both reached the quarterfinals in Rhetorical Criticism and Poetry Interpretation, respectively. Ethan O’Neill secured quarterfinalist spots in After-Dinner Speaking and Extemporaneous Speaking. Teagan Fuller became a semifinalist in Prose. Jason Folk, Hannah Ihrig, and Estelle Hackos also attained notable results in their respective categories.

Olivia Wetzel advanced to the quarterfinals in multiple categories, earning sixth place in Extemporaneous and Impromptu Speaking. Meghan Heulsman and her partner Gavin Millard earned fifth place nationally in Duo with a strong performance. Gavin Millard also finished 12th in the Individual Sweepstakes.

AbdurRahman Elder ranked fourth in Informative Speaking, while Louise Engohang found success in several categories, finishing as the sixth overall speaker nationally.

Bill Heinze commented on the team's achievement, saying, “It was amazing to take third (at NFA)... This year's success only sets us up for a better 2025-26 season.”

Founded in 1849, Eastern Michigan University is Michigan's second oldest public university, and serves nearly 13,000 students across a wide range of disciplines. The university is regularly recognized for excellence and commitment to applied education.