College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Speech and Debate team launched the 2025-2026 season with a successful showing at the Fran Tanner Open, hosted Sept. 26 and 27 at College of Southern Idaho. The annual fall tournament welcomed programs from across the region and served as the official kickoff to the collegiate forensics season.
Led by Director of Forensics, Julia Bennett, and Assistant Director, Johnny Rowing, CWI competitors, a mix of returning veterans and first-time competitors, made their mark in both speech and debate events.
In the Novice International Public Debate Association (IPDA) division, newcomers Brayden Wilkerson and Thane Eddington dominated the field, closing out the division to claim gold and silver respectfully. In speech events, Marlee Novak and McKay Steffler teamed up in Duo Interpretation, where they earned bronze.
The tournament also marked a special return for Rowing, one of the program’s founding coaches. After helping launch the team and leading it until 2017, Rowing rejoined the forensics coaching staff this fall.
“Returning to my first tournament after so many years has felt a bit like coming home,” Rowing said. “Rather than seeing familiar streets and storefronts I returned to students facing fears, researching topics, supporting one another, and finding a way to achieve excellence. What a thing, a magical thing.”
CWI Speech and Debate will continue its season at the Mahaffey Memorial Tournament, hosted at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, Nov. 14 – 16.
For more information about CWI’s Speech and Debate team, contact Julia Bennett at juliabennett@cwi.edu.
