Awards

In 1979, a Bradley Speech team competitor won AFA in poetry. This was the first time that anyone had won an individual national championship from Bradley and it marked the beginning of Bradley's tradition of excellence.

Since 1979, Bradley University has had one hundred and fifteen individual national champions. No other team has attained as many individual national champions as Bradley University.

NFA

Team Titles: 17
(05,02,01,98,97,96,
94,93,92,91,90,89,
88,85,84,83,82,)

Individual
Sweepstakes
Titles:  6

Eric Long – 2002
August Benassi – 1996
Ronnie Stewart – 1992
Karen Bowers – 1991
Greg Dolph – 1986
Brad Johansen – 1984

Individual
Event Titles: 53

RC
Collin McDonnel – 2006
Ronnie Stewart – 1992
Karon Bowers – 1991
Tracy Anderson – 1985
Steve Sudhoff - 1984
Sam Marcosson – 1983

         Persuasion
Christine Smith – 1998
George LaMaster – 1993
Athena Papachronis – 1991
Kay Hriensaitong – 1986
Dennis Upah – 1982

Extemp
Patrick O’Shaughnessy – 1993
Patrick O’Shaughnessy – 1992
Mike Jacoby – 1989
Mike Jacoby – 1988
Andy Heaton – 1981

Duo
Billman/Lowry – 2005
Riewert/Raab – 2002
Allen/Morris – 1998
Funk/Volpp – 1994
Braun/Farruggio – 1989
Spengel/Mancini – 1988
Klawitter/Skeffignton – 1987
Spengel/Dolph – 1986
Alexander/Dolph – 1985
Gibson/Wineburner – 1984

Impromptu
Eric Martin – 1993
Ronnie Stewart – 1992
Dave Alabach – 1984
Sam Marcosson – 1983
Tom McCarthy – 1982

Informative
Martin Note – 2001
Ed Reed – 1994
Ed Reed – 1993
Tony Brooks – 1991
Brian Welch – 1986

Poetry
Sarah Braun – 1990
Sarah Braun – 1989
Greg Dolph – 1985
Carolyn Mungo – 1981

Prose
Lacy Lowry – 2006
Scott Pyle – 2005
Jill McCall – 1998
Ed Reed – 1995
Jason Davidson – 1993
Amy Olsen – 1991   
Greg Dolph – 1986
Tim Clue – 1984

ADS
Kami Kosenko – 2001
Dana Lovecchio – 1999
Ben Lohman – 1996
Calvin Fong – 1994
Jeff Sculley – 1989

AFA

Team Titles:  19
(00,99,98,97,96,93,92
,91,90,89,88,87,86,
85,84,83,82,81,80)

Individual
Sweepstakes Titles:  8

August Benassi – 1996
August Benassi – 1995
Karen Bowers – 1992
Karen Bowers – 1991
Ken Klawitter – 1988
Tom Doyle – 1987   
Greg Dolph – 1986

Greg Dolph – 1985

Individual
Events Titles:  51

Impromptu
Michael Jacoby – 1990
Andy Heaton – 1981

Informative
Karon Bowers – 1992

Prose
Gina Post – 1997
Ed Reed – 1995
Sarah Braun – 1990
Ken Klawitter – 1987
Greg Dolph – 1986
Tami Gearing – 1980

Extemp
Tom Doyle – 1987
Sam Marcosson – 1983
Andy Heaton – 1982

DUO
Grafe/Post – 1997
Butler/Russ – 1996
Sculley/Mancini – 1989
Spengel/Mancini – 1988
Bass/Skeffington – 1987
Clue/Alabach – 1985
Dolph/Johannsen – 1984

 ADS
Jon Meinen – 2004
Eric Long – 2002
Ben Lohman – 1997
Ben Lohman – 1996
Karon Bowers – 1992
Jeff Sculley – 1989
David Awl – 1988

 Persuasion
Sarah Meinen – 1999
Jim Brazell – 1994
Karon Bowers – 1992
Amy Olsen – 1990
Diedre Wallace – 1984
Dave Alabach – 1983

 POI
August Benassi – 1996

 Poetry
Emambu Attabong – 2007
Sarah Braun – 1989
Sarah Braun – 1988
Margie Kesiner – 1983
Carolyn Mungo – 1981
Dawne Mosely – 1980
Tim Gamble – 1979

 DI
Jill Valentine – 1999
August Benassi – 1993
Jason Davidson – 1992
Sarah Braun – 1989
Greg Dolph- 1986
Greg Dolph – 1985
Greg Dolph – 1984

CA
Steve Markov – 1987
Tracy Anderson – 1985
Sam Marcosson – 1983
Andy Heaton – 1982

INTERSTATE:  2 (Ben Lohman and Sarah Meinen)

(Detailed Finalist List Coming Soon)

A Little History

Most people are aware that Bradley University was founded by Lydia Moss Bradley in 1897. But few people know that the Bradley Speech Team was founded in the very same year. In 1897, an oratorical contest was held on campus and it was this event that marked the beginning of the most successful co-curricular program in the nation. Since 1980, the Bradley Speech Team has won thirty three AFA and NFA national championships. This record of success is unmatched by any other forensic or academic program in history.

The team first tasted national success when they hosted the 1st Annual L.E. Norton Invitational in 1947. This college individual events and debate tournament drew over 1500 competitors from around the nation. Students competed in such strange events as listening, discussion, and the venerable oratory and extemp. The tournament was so successful it even drew media attention from as far away as Chicago. Perhaps illustrating the nation's current lack of interest in most academic pursuits, the 1947 tournament was featured on the front page of the Chicago Daily News... something that would be very unlikely today.

The tournament was named for Bradley director of forensics L.E. Norton whose status among speech figures is legendary. Norton is responsible for inventing many of the events we compete in today, including duo interpretation and informative speaking. While at Bradley, Norton founded Phi Kappa Delta, the honorary speech fraternity. He also coached the national championship GE College Bowl Team in 1969.

Such a legendary figure deserves a legendary tournament in his honor. The L.E. Norton Invitational is still hosted on Bradley's campus each year and is considered one of the most prestigious individual events tournaments.

The next step for Bradley was to develop a high school tournament as successful as its college counterpart. Named for L.E. Norton's successor, The George Armstrong Heart of Illinois Invitational plays host to over a thousand high school competitors from across the nation every year.

George Armstrong is another legendary figure in forensics. As Director of Forensics, Armstrong led the team to its first national championships while at the same time possessing a personality that really can not be described. Armstrong was a father-figure to all who knew him... and just about everyone loved him. His classes were more therapy session than educational, and his coaching skills were not especially cutting-edge. However, as an administrator and a figure-head, Armstrong was and is the defining standard.