Birch Run Forensics Association

05/17/2026

Twelve members of the Birch Run High School Forensic Team took part in the Michigan Speech Coaches, Inc. Tournament at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island this weekend. Coaches and volunteers of the team also were able to attend. It was a wonderful event!

05/13/2026

Join us in congratulating the 2026 BRFA Scholarship winners, Keira Lee and Jenna-Lyn Nettleton! 🎉🎓💐

05/09/2026

🎓 Congratulations to two of our outstanding Birch Run Forensics Association board members on their graduations this year!

Please join us in celebrating:

✨ Business Manager James Nettleton, graduate of Saginaw Valley State University
✨ Secretary Kali Decker, graduate of Central Michigan University

Your hard work, dedication, and leadership have made a lasting impact on our organization. We are incredibly proud of everything you’ve accomplished and can’t wait to see what comes next for both of you. Congratulations, graduates! 🎉👏

05/07/2026

Senior Natalie Spencer, Sophomore Kimberly Nowak, and Junior Alivia Phillips performed at the Saginaw Youth Arts Festival at the Temple Theatre in Saginaw this evening. Spencer placed second in the state for class BCD Prose Interpretation, Nowak placed 3rd in the state in Storytelling, and Phillips placed sixth in the state in Informative Speaking.

05/04/2026

Birch Run High School Forensic Team Members Senior Natalie Spencer, Junior Alivia Phillips, and Sophomore Kimberly Nowak will perform at the Youth Arts Festival at the Temple Theatre in Saginaw on Thursday, May 7th at 5:30 p.m. They will join students from around Saginaw County who will showcase their talents at the festival!

Stop on out to this free event!

These students will perform their forensic pieces from this season. Natalie took 2nd in the state in Class BCD in Prose Interpretation with her selection called Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant by Roz Chast. Alivia took 6th in the state with her Informative Speech on Origami. Kimberly took 3rd in the state in Storytelling with her piece Broadway Bird by Alex Timbers.

05/02/2026

🎤✨ **Marshall Greene Middle School Forensics State Tournament Results** ✨🎤

We are incredibly proud of our students who represented Marshall Greene Middle School at the State Tournament! Their hard work, talent, and confidence truly shined on the big stage. 💙

🏆 **State Champion**
🥇 Savannah P. — 1st Place Poetry

🌟 **State Placers**
• Emmett T. — 4th Place Extemporaneous Speaking
• Emma G. — 5th Place Prose
• Patrick B. — 6th Place Informative
• Katelyn J. — 8th Place Broadcasting
• Abigail R. — 8th Place Oratory
• Kiera J. & Leila J. — 11th Place Duo Interpretation
• Greyson A. — 13th Place Storytelling

👏 We are so proud of each and every one of you for your dedication and outstanding performances!

💙 A special thank you to Coach Sarah Fogg for your time, dedication, and constant support of our students. Your guidance, encouragement, and commitment helped make this season a success, and we are so grateful for all that you do! 🎤✨

💫 Way to go, Marshall Greene Middle School Forensics Team!

04/25/2026

🎤✨ Congratulations to the Birch Run High School Forensics Team! ✨🎤
What an incredible showing at the State Tournament! We are so proud of every competitor who represented Birch Run with talent, dedication, and heart. 💙
👏 State Champions & Top Finalists:
🥇 Harmony Rzepka – 1st Place, Dramatic Interpretation STATE CHAMPION
🥈 Makayla Brown – 2nd Place, Broadcasting
🥈 Natalie Spencer – 2nd Place, Prose
🥉 Keira Little – 3rd Place, Dramatic Interpretation
🥉 John Nowak – 3rd Place, Sales
🥉 Kimberly Nowak – 3rd Place, Storytelling
🏅 Jenna-Lyn Nettleton – 4th Place, Oratory
🏅 Mattie Lucius – 4th Place, Program Oral Interpretation
🏅 Dariia Labets – 4th Place, Sales
🏅 Ellie Schultz – 5th Place, Oratory 9-10
🏅 Andrew Campbell – 6th Place, Extemporaneous
🏅 Alivia Phillips – 6th Place, Informative
🏅 Jersey Gabriella Powell – 6th Place, Poetry
🌟 Semifinalists:
Sophia Clark (Broadcasting)
Sophia Johnston & Samantha Carmona (Duo Commentary)
Hayden Woodall & Calob Billings (Duo Commentary)
Joseph Swords (Impromptu)
Ridge Samuelson (Oratory 9-10)
Carissa Billings (Prose 9-10)
Megan Jenrow (Storytelling)
🎉 State Competitors:
Alaina Arnold (Impromptu)
Austin Sabraw (Informative)
Paige Smith (Prose)
Rorey Woodall (Prose 9-10)
🏆 Team Finish: 4th Place Overall in Class BCD!
From finalists to semifinalists to state competitors, every single performer contributed to this amazing achievement. Your hard work, courage, and passion for speech shine bright! 🌟
💙 We are so proud of you, Panthers! 💙

04/23/2026

Very proud of our former BRHS Forensic students, Brendan Kenny and Pierce Leix, who were recently elected President and Vice President of Spartan Speech at MSU! Many alumni continue to have a strong connection in the forensic community and with BRHS Forensics. We are so proud!

04/16/2026

We are always grateful to have such a supportive community! Thank you, Rotary Club of Birch Run, Michigan.

The Rotary Club was honored to welcome the Birch Run Forensics Team to our meeting yesterday morning. What an excellent program and truly impressive performance by these talented students!

We are so proud of their hard work and dedication as they prepare to head to the State Competition. Wishing the entire team the very best of luck — we’ll be cheering you on! 👏🎤

04/13/2026

The Birch Run High School Forensic Team took first place this Saturday at the Michigan Interscholastic Forensic Association's Last Chance Tournament at Eastern High School in Lansing.

Students earned these places:
Calob Billings and Hayden Woodall--1st place Duo Commentary
Sophia Johnstin and Samantha Carmona--2nd place Duo Commentary
Sophia Clark--3rd place Broadcasting
Makayla Brown--5th place Broadcasting
Harmony Rzepka--1st place Dramatic Interpretation
Keira Little--2nd place Dramatic Interpretation
Jay Waliczek and Paige Smith--Duo Interp.
Andrew Campbell--4th place Extemporaneous Speaking
Alivia Phillips--1st place Informative
Austin Sabraw--2nd place Informative
Jenna-Lyn Nettleton--6th place Oratory
Ellie Schultz--2nd place Oratory 9/10
Mattie Lucius--1st place Program Oral Interpretation
Natalie Spencer--1st place Prose
Carissa Billings--1st place Prose 9/10
Rorey Woodall--4th place Prose 9/10
Dariia Labets--3rd place Sales
John Nowak--4th place Sales
Megan Jenrow--4th place Storytelling
Kimberly Nowak--5th place Storytelling

The team will head to state competition on April 24th and 25th at Eastern Michigan University.