McPherson Forensics Claims 10th State Title Since 2021
The Bullpups swept the state speech championship with 361 points and 10 finalists.
MCPHERSON, Kan. — The McPherson High School varsity forensics program, competing with boys and girls representing the school, claimed first place at the Kansas State Speech Championship on May 2 at Washburn Rural High School, finishing with 361 points to edge runner-up Rock Creek (317) and third-place Buhler (302) — marking the program's 10th state title since 2021 under head coach Aaron Schopper.
The Bullpups took the maximum 16 entries to state, with 14 advancing to semifinals and 10 reaching finals, highlighted by individual state championships from Ellis Frye in Poetry and Anne-Marie Holmes in Impromptu Speaking, while Holmes also placed second in Informative and fourth in Original Oration, and Avery Unruh (third, Informative), Dylan Bruce and Celaine Worden (third, Duet), and Dylan Bruce (fourth, Prose) added to the team's dominant showing.
Students also competed at the State Festival in Salina, where John Conard earned top-I ratings in both Program Oral Interpretation and Extemporaneous Speaking, EJ Griffith earned I ratings in Poetry and Dramatic Interpretation, and River Nichols, Ayden Loy, Dylan Smith and Elizabeth Britting each earned at least one I rating among the festival entries.
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