Bradley University Wins 2022 National Speech Championship

March 24, 2022

The Bradley University Speech Team has won the 2022 National Speech Championship (NSC) for the second year in a row. This national tournament allows teams to enter a maximum of 22 entries with only two students per event. Bradley had a very strong showing with 14 of its entries making it into the final rounds, along with one national champion. Bradley took first place overall, edging out second- and third-place teams Lewis & Clark College and Illinois State University.

"I'm very proud of the work our students have been doing all year," said Andrew Eilola, the director of forensics at Bradley. "Winning NSC is an incredible start to our 2022 nationals season."

Individual results can be found below. Bradley’s championship comes weeks after placing second at the Illinois State Tournament. The speech team will finish its season with the American Forensics Association National Speech Tournament (April 2-4) and the National Forensics Association Tournament (April 14-18).

The Bradley Speech Team will be hosting their annual Night Before Nationals showcase, which includes two shows, on Thursday, March 24, in Neumiller Lecture Hall in Bradley Hall at 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Speech Team pictured from left to right:

  • Lily Pieper ‘22 — Impromptu Speaking: 4th; Duo Performance (w/ Alex Fosburgh): 3rd; Extemporaneous Speaking: CHAMPION.
  • Alex Fosburgh ‘22 — Duo Performance (w/ Lily Pieper): 3rd.
  • Andrew Eilola — Team Coach.
  • Ethan Kirchner ‘23 — Poetry Performance: Quarterfinalist; Program Performance: Semifinalist.
  • Tia Collins — Team Coach.
  • Joshua Timmons ‘25 — Informative Speaking: Quarterfinalist; Poetry Performance: 3rd; Dramatic Performance: 2nd.
  • Joseph Cyrus ‘24 — Program Performance: Semifinalist.
  • David Daye ‘23 — Informative Speaking: 4th; After-Dinner Speaking: 3rd; Prose Performance: 3rd; Persuasive Speaking: 2nd; Communication Analysis: 2nd.
  • Sarah Hazenfield '25 — Team Member.
  • Kaity Johnson ‘23 — Prose Performance: Quarterfinalist; After-Dinner Speaking: Semifinalist; Persuasive Speaking: 6th; Dramatic Performance: 3rd.
  • Rodrigo Trujillo ‘25 — Impromptu Speaking: Semifinalist; Communication Analysis: 4th; Extemporaneous Speaking: 3rd.