February 17, 2026
The Tallahassee State College (TSC) Speech and Debate Team delivered another historic performance at the Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) State Tournament, earning the Overall Team Sweepstakes title and securing the program’s tenth consecutive state championship.
This victory marks TSC’s 26th FCSAA title in the past 28 years.
Competing against the top programs across the Florida College System, TSC dominated by winning state championships in 12 of the 13 events offered.
Every team member earned at least one award, with several students capturing multiple titles, bringing the team’s total to an impressive 43 honors.
Leading the group was Lillyana Humphreys, who was named the tournament’s top Overall Speaker. She won state championships in Extemporaneous Speaking, After-Dinner Speaking, and shared the IPDA Debate title in a tie with teammate Jackson Hopkins. Hopkins also won championships in Informative Speaking and Impromptu Speaking.
Samuel King earned third Overall Speaker and won a state championship in Duo Interpretation alongside teammate Natalie Gordon. Gordon won additional state titles in Program Oral Interpretation and Poetry Interpretation.
Grace Hartman won fourth Overall Speaker and earned championships in Dramatic Interpretation and Prose Interpretation. Olivia Shull won fifth Overall Speaker and secured a state title in Communication Analysis.
Sophie Germanovsky won a state championship in Persuasive Speaking.
“This team represents everything collegiate speech and debate is meant to be,” said the team’s faculty advisor, John Schultz. “Their success is not just about winning titles, it’s about the growth, leadership, and confidence they develop along the way. I am so proud of what they’ve accomplished and excited to see them continue building on this extraordinary legacy.”
Along with the students’ success, Schultz has been elected to serve as the FCSAA Division Representative on the FCSAA Executive Council.
The team will continue its season by competing in additional regional and national tournaments, where they aim to defend multiple championships and extend their record-setting streak.