The Bethany Christian High School speech and debate teams have had a strong showing at recent competitions, earning top placements and personal achievements at district and sectional tournaments.
On February 8, Bethany’s speech and debate team competed at parallel tournaments at Fort Wayne Dwenger High School. In the District Congressional Debate Tournament, junior Eviella Sefu placed fifth in the Senate, demonstrating her skill in argumentation and public speaking. Meanwhile, at the Del Nelson Memorial Speech Tournament also held at Fort Wayne Dwenger, several Bethany students earned top placements. Junior Elena Unzicker placed third in United States extemporaneous speaking and fifth in impromptu speaking, while sophomore Ethan Claasen secured fifth in international extemporaneous speaking. Additionally, junior Jenny Rios placed sixth in original oratory.
Junior Margi Finnigan achieved a major milestone by earning her third National Forensic League (NFL) degree, Excellence. The NFL, now known as the National Speech & Debate Association, is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society for high school speech and debate students.
The following weekend, on February 15, the team competed at the Northeast Indiana District Tournament at Concord High School, a national-qualifying event. Three Bethany students placed sixth overall in their respective categories: Eviella Sefu in international extemporaneous, Elena Unzicker in United States extemporaneous, and senior Sofia Johar in dramatic interpretation. Sofia was also named first alternate to the national tournament, an impressive achievement.
In addition to her competitive success, Eviella was selected by district coaches as the Northeast Indiana nominee for the National Speech and Debate Association Student Leadership Council, recognizing her leadership and contributions to the speech and debate community.
Bethany’s momentum carried into the sectional speech tournament on February 22 at Plymouth High School, where the team placed fifth overall against strong competition from Plymouth, Penn, Concord, and Warsaw. Two students—Eviella Sefu in poetry interpretation and sophomore Rachel Hirschler in prose interpretation—earned fifth-place finishes in their respective events.
Beyond competitive success, students also achieved personal milestones. Eviella reached the Special Distinction level in the National Speech & Debate Association with 500 points, while junior Gretchen Bateman earned her Merit degree at 25 points.
With their performances at sectionals, Eviella Sefu and Rachel Hirschler have qualified for the Indiana Schools Speech and Debate Association (ISSDA) State Tournament. They will compete at Fishers High School on March 8, representing Bethany Christian among the best high school speakers in the state.
The Bethany speech and debate teams have demonstrated dedication and excellence throughout the season, and their achievements at districts and sectionals highlight their growing success. As the state tournament approaches, the team looks forward to continuing its tradition of competitive excellence.