by Rich Stratton, Assistant Director of Public Relations
It was a sweet victory for Cedarville University’s forensics team at the 2025 Ohio Forensics Association State Championship, held Feb. 14-15 at the University of Akron. In claiming the state championship, Cedarville’s team took the top spot in the categories of both speech and debate.
Cedarville’s success was highlighted by five first-place finishes. Noah Hollenbach, a political science junior from Moseley, Virginia, claimed the debate competition while also earning the top debate speaker award. Laura Ball, a freshman majoring in special education from Harker Heights, Texas, won the after-dinner speaking category and was the runner-up in debate speaking and rhetorical criticism. Freshman economics major Zane Enos from Colorado Springs, Colorado, won in impromptu speaking, while Eliana Boerner, a freshman communication major from Cincinnati, Ohio, claimed the informative speaking championship. Boerner also secured a runner-up finish in persuasive speaking and, with that performance, qualified for the Interstate Oratorical Association national championship, held April 26-27 at Tennessee State University.
Boerner’s accomplishment will mark the fifth consecutive year that a Cedarville student has competed at the prestigious IOA championship, the longest running collegiate speech tournament in the country.
The team also celebrated several runner-up finishes. Boerner and Cara Enos, a freshman psychology major from Colorado Springs, Colorado, placed second in duo interpretation. Lilly Deaton, a sophomore majoring in biology from Milan, Indiana, was runner-up in informative speaking. Ellia Torlone, a junior communication major from Delaware, Ohio, secured second place in prose interpretation, while Spicer Wadman, a junior majoring in physics from Hillsboro, Virginia, earned a runner-up finish in poetry interpretation. Deidra Hall, a junior psychology major from Pawcatuck, Connecticut, placed second in extemporaneous speaking, impromptu speaking and debate.
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online 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.