College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Speech and Debate team launched the 2026-2027 season at the Fran Tanner Open, held Sept. 25 and 26 at College of Southern Idaho. The tournament welcomed 118 competitors from 15 colleges and universities and served as a kickoff event for the Northwest Forensics Conference season.
Led by coaches, Johnny Rowing and Julia Bennett, CWI brought 12 students to the tournament, including 11 newcomers to collegiate competition.
In Novice International Public Debate Association (IPDA) debate, Taylor Hurt and Zach Alder earned bronze medals, with Hurt also placing third in overall novice IPDA speaker points. Seven of CWI’s 12 competitors finished with records of .500 or better, including six students competing at their first Northwest Forensics Conference tournament.
Speech and Debate alumni Andrew Castro, Allison Kotsier, and Nathaneal McBride also traveled with the team to serve as judges.
“For nearly every CWI student, this was their first collegiate tournament ever. Because of the format of this specific tournament, CWI students were often competing against students from other colleges who had years of experience under their belts,” said Andrew Castro, CWI alumnus and current volunteer judge for the team. “With numerous winning debate records, and speech placements that would have otherwise earned a spot in a final round, this year's CWI Otters are showing that they have the tenacity, courage, and vision to accomplish what has been done eight times in this program's history- win a national championship title.”
CWI Speech and Debate will continue its season at the Mahaffey Memorial Tournament, held at Linfield College Nov. 13-15.
Learn more about CWI Speech and Debate and opportunities to get involved, or contact Julia Bennett at juliabennett@cwi.edu for more information.
