College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Speech and Debate team closed out the 2025–2026 season with five awards at the Phi Rho Pi Region I Tournament, including two first-place finishes. Hosted by the College of Southern Idaho, March 20–22, the regional competition featured students from Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, and Utah.
CWI’s top performances included first place in Duo Interpretation for McKay Steffler and Gregory Jones, and first place in Dramatic Interpretation for Steffler, highlighting a strong finish to the season.
Across the 2025–2026 season, CWI students earned a total of 16 speech awards, eight debate awards, and three team awards, including the Northwest Forensics Conference (NFC) Division III Silver Award.
Looking ahead, the team will be featured during CWI Connections Day on April 23, where students will showcase competition pieces and connect with prospective participants. In May, the program will host the Spring 2026 Speech and Debate Rookie Tournament, featuring students from Communication courses.
Congratulations to the team, including coaches Dr. Julia Bennett and Johnny Rowing, for continuing CWI’s tradition of excellence in intercollegiate speech and debate.
2025–2026 Season Results
Fran Tanner Invitational
Sept. 26–27 | College of Southern Idaho
Novice IPDA Debate
Gold — Brayden Wilkerson
Silver — Thane Eddington
Interpretive Duo
Bronze — Marlee Novak and McKay Steffler
Mahaffey Memorial
Nov. 14–16 | Linfield College
Novice IPDA Debate
Quarterfinalist — Thane Eddington
5th Place Speaker — Thane Eddington
Novice Extemporaneous Speaking
2nd — Drake Medlen
4th — Ruari Green
Novice Persuasive Speaking
3rd — Brayden Wilkerson
Novice Impromptu Speaking
3rd — Thane Eddington
5th — Brayden Wilkerson
Novice Informative Speaking
6th — Drake Medlen
Novice Prose Interpretation
2nd — Thane Eddington
Novice Duo Interpretation
1st — Marlee Novak and McKay Steffler
Team Sweepstakes
2nd Place — Division III Community College
Dugaw Smelt Classic
Feb. 13–15 | Lower Columbia College
Novice IPDA Debate
Semifinalist — Brayden Wilkerson
Octofinalist — Thane Eddington
Octofinalist — Gregory Jones
Octofinalist — McKay Steffler
Dramatic Interpretation
Top Novice, 3rd Overall — McKay Steffler
Impromptu Speaking
6th Place Novice — Thane Eddington
Team Awards (Season-Long NFC)
Silver — Division III Overall
Third Place — Division III Debate
Phi Rho Pi Region I Tournament
March 20–22 | College of Southern Idaho
Duo Interpretation
1st — McKay Steffler and Gregory Jones
Dramatic Interpretation
1st — McKay Steffler
Impromptu Speaking
2nd — Thane Eddington
Program Oral Interpretation
2nd — McKay Steffler
Extemporaneous Speaking
5th — Matthew Roberts
For more information about CWI’s Speech and Debate team, contact Julia Bennett at juliabennett@cwi.edu.
