University of Central Missouri Debate & Forensics

04/19/2026

Also, please join us in congratulating Senior, Paige Showen, for advancing to outrounds in Dramatic Interpretation at NFA!

04/19/2026

Please join us in congratulating Freshman, Sophie Katcher, for advancing to outrounds in Impromptu at NFA!

04/12/2026

Congrats to Charlie Vitale and Luke Fitzsimmons for advancing to elim rounds at IPDA Nationals.

We're also proud of Caleb Dillon, Ashley Singh, Paige Showen, and Tristian Jackson for their efforts in representing the team and the assistance they're providing during prep for elim rounds (it does our coach hearts proud seeing this teamwork in action).

04/10/2026

Congrats to Luke Fitzsimmons and Tristian Jackson for advancing to Double Octs in Team IPDA at IPDA Nationals.

04/10/2026

The Talking Mules are searching for Graduate Assistants for the 2026-2027 academic year. Applicants will need to be admitted to the Communication MA program. We're at IPDA Nationals and NFA Nationals if you would like to chat about this opportunity. We can also chat on Google Meet/Zoom. Please pass along this opportunity to anyone you believe might be interested.

All Job Opportunities        Staff Career Opportunities       Faculty Career Opportunities       Adjunct Job Opportunities 

03/26/2026

A few members of The Talking Mules competed at the Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament and Convention over the weekend. Here are our results:

Paige Showen
Discussion- Superior (Top 10%)
Prose- Excellence (Top 30%)
Duo Interpretation-Top Superior (3rd Place)
Duo Interpretation- Selected Showcase Performance
Program Oral Interpretation- Excellence (Top 30%)
After Dinner Speaking- Superior (Top 10%)

Ashley Singh
Extemp Commentary- top superior—National Champion
Podcasting- Excellence (Top 30%)

Jayme Thompson
Duo Interpretation-Top Superior (3rd Place)
Duo Interpretation- Selected Showcase Performance
Program Oral Interpretation- Excellence (Top 30%)
Poetry- Top Superior (3rd Place)

Charlie Vitale
Duo Interpretation-Excellence (Top 30%)

Mayven Amarello
Duo Interpretation-Excellence (Top 30%)
Program Oral Interpretation- Excellence (Top 30%)
Poetry-Excellence (Top 30%)

Chase Dernier, Kelley Akers, Ty Schroeder
Podcasting-Excellence (Top 30%)

Luke Fitzsimmons
Student Scholarship- Top Superior (2nd Place)

Carolyn Rodarte
Impromptu Speaking- Excellence (Top 30%)

03/13/2026

As we bring this amazing opportunity to a close, I can’t help but be super impressed with all of the talented students and their equally outstanding coaches!

This marks the 30th anniversary of the Montgomery Cup. We end the trip with a narrow victory, for those who keep score. The 1 & 2 rankings last night in our 4th debate, pushed up ahead by 1 point for the series.

However, the real victory gained was this life altering educational experience for our students. THIS is why I continue to lead students on the Montgomery Cup.

PLEASE congratulate your coaches and students (UCM & University of California San Diego). They deserve your praise!

03/10/2026

Greetings from Parliament Hall on The University of St. Andrews campus where our second debate on The Montgomery Cup Study Abroad tour has begun. CJ Miller is representing UCMO during tonight’s debate, partnering with one of our friends representing University of California-San Diego.

We head to Edinburgh tomorrow morning and will debate there tomorrow night (with Grace’e Carr and Alyna Mathews representing UCMO) and the University of West Scotland on Thursday (with Grace’e Carr and Sophie Katcher representing UCMO).

Many thanks to the faculty at UCMO, our alums, our donors, and friends of the team for helping to make this amazing experience happen.

03/07/2026

The Talking Mules are preparing for our first debate of The Montgomery Cup Study Abroad Tour against Durham University this evening. We enjoyed the last few days in London seeing the sights and taking in some shows. We’re looking forward to three additional debates when our tour takes us north into Scotland.

02/15/2026

The Talking Mules had some fun results at our MAFA State Tournament this past weekend. Here are our results:

Caleb Dillon:
Open IPDA Debate: Tournament Champion and Missouri State Champion
Open IPDA speaker awards: 5th Place
Oratory: 3rd Place

Paige Showen:
Program of Oral Interpretation: 3rd Place
Duo Interpretation: 3rd Place
After Dinner Speaking: 2nd Place and Missouri State Champion
Dramatic Interpretation: 2nd Place
Pentathlon: 3rd Place
Jack Rogers Overall Forensicator: Tournament Champion and Missouri State Champion
Open IPDA Debate: Octofinalist

Jayme Thompson:
Open IPDA Debate: Octofinalist
Open IPDA Speaker: 2nd Place
Program of Oral Interpretation: Tournament Champion and Missouri State Champion
Duo Interpretation: 3rd Place
Poetry Interpretation: 5th Place

Tristan Jackson:
Open IPDA Debate: Quarterfinalist
Open TIPDA Speaker: 2nd Place
Oratory: 2nd Place and qualifies for Interstate Oratory

Luke Fitzsimmons:
Open IPDA Debate: Semifinalist
Communication Analysis: 6th Place

Sophie Katcher:
Novice IPDA Debate: Octofinalist
Impromptu Speaking: 6th Place

Charlie Vitale:
Novice IPDA Debate: Quarterfinalist
Duo Interpretation: 6th Place

Mayven Amarello:
Program of Oral Interpretation: 5th Place
Duo Interpretation: 6th Place

Grace’e Carr:
Oratory: 5th Place

Carolyn Rodarte:
Oratory: 6th Place

Sydney Crank:
MAFA President-Elect

12/08/2025

Here are our results from the weekend:

Forensics 500 Part 1

Luke Fitzsimmons
Informative-5th Place

Mayven Amarello
Poetry-6th Place

Ashley Singh
Extemporaneous-3rd Place

Caleb Dillon
Impromptu-6th Place

Sophie Katcher
Impromptu-4th Place

Forensics 500 Part 2

Xander Corkins
IPDA-Co-Champion
IPDA Speaker-6th Place

Sophie Katcher
IPDA-Co-Champion
IPDA Speaker-4th Place
Top Novice Speaker

Ashley Singh
IPDA-Co-Champion
IPDA Speaker-Co-Top Speaker

Caleb Dillon
IPDA-Co-Champion
IPDA Speaker-Co-Top Speaker

Paige Showen
IPDA Speaker-3rd Place

Mayven Amarello
Poetry-2nd Place
Poetry-Top Novice
POI-3rd Place

Debate Sweepstakes-Tournament Champions