May 22, 2025

SVSU repeats national speech championship win

Experience and preparation combined to propel Saginaw Valley State University’s competitive speech team to a national championship win for the second consecutive year. The team took first place in the limited entry division, President’s Division 3, at the National Forensic Association’s 2025 National Championship Tournament, which was held at Wayne State University April 17-21.

Nimnan Wuyep, a communication and international studies graduate from from Jos, Nigeria, set multiple SVSU records. Wuyep advanced to the final round of Poetry and Persuasion, placing fifth and sixth respectively. He also advanced to the semifinal round (top 12) in Prose and Dramatic Interpretation and the quarterfinals (top 24) in Extemporaneous Speaking. Overall, Wuyep placed 12th in Individual Sweepstakes, the first time an SVSU student has earned this level.  
Emily Drzewicki, a first-year Communication and Sociology Major from Bay City, placed third in the Novice Final of Persuasion.

Riley Romer, an international studies and Spanish major from Macomb, advanced to the octafinal round of Extemporaneous Speaking.

Xsandrie Guimba, an exercise science major from Manila, Philippines,  and Hannah Schalk, an elementary education major from Reese, contributed to the team award.

SVSU's competitive speech team is coached by Ryan Rigda, lecturer of communication, and Amy Pierce, associate professor of communication.