Forensics Team Wins Big in Reader's Theatre
At Cedarville University’s largest forensics competition to date, a standout achievement came in reader’s theatre, where Cedarville’s team won the competition.
Cedarville University’s Forensics Team won an important victory at the prestigious Pi Kappa Delta Honor Society tournament, held March 13–16 at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Cedarville’s team won top honors competing against the nation’s best, including teams from the University of Alabama, Ohio University, and Whitworth University. The team’s performance not only showcased their skills but also cemented their place among the country’s elite forensics programs.
The tournament marked Cedarville’s largest forensics competition to date, with students excelling in both debate and oratory. A standout achievement came in Reader’s Theatre, where Cedarville’s team won the competition, outperforming seven other teams. Reader’s Theatre, a unique event, requires teams of three to seven members to develop and deliver a 25-minute performance centered on a specific theme.
Cedarville’s winning performance tackled the dangers of modern witch-hunting. Despite initial uncertainty about how their presentation would compare to those from larger schools, the team’s hard work and dedication paid off. Contributors to the championship included Noah Hollenbach, a junior political science major from Moseley, Virginia, Deidra Hall, a junior psychology major from Pawcatuck, Connecticut, Joshua Parker, a freshman communication major from Gilbert, Arizona, Zane Enos, a freshman economics major from Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Kayla Sheaffer, a freshman global business major from Tucson, Arizona.
“This was a huge surprise. We had no idea we even stood a chance, but the team was doing something right,” said Eric Mishne, Assistant Professor of Communication and Director of Forensics at Cedarville.
Cedarville debaters also delivered impressive performances. Joshua Parker advanced to the semifinals in the novice division, while Deidra Hall reached the octo-finals in the open division and finished as the second-place debate speaker.
Additionally, Eliana Boerner, a freshmen communication major from Cincinnati, Ohio, made Cedarville history by placing third out of 98 participants in persuasive speaking—advancing farther in the competition than any previous Cedarville competitor.
Cedarville’s success at Pi Kappa Delta underscores the team’s growth and national competitiveness, setting the stage for future achievements in collegiate forensics
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate programs across arts, sciences, and professional fields. With 6,384 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized by The Wall Street Journal as being among the nation’s top three evangelical universities. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics, and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.