The Arkansas Communication & Theatre Arts Association (ACTAA) is pleased to announce the 2026 All-State Speech & Debate students from Fall 2025 competition.
These students finished in the top of their field in Arkansas’ 25+ speech and debate events, earned the recognition of “All-State Speech & Debate” for the academic year, and qualified to compete at the Arkansas State Forensics & Debate Championship tournament in April.
Students can earn all-state recognition in more than one event, and are recognized with a numbered diamond to accompany the all-state title for the number of event qualifiers earned to the state tournament. (e.g., a student who qualifies for the state tournament in three events would be recognized for “Three Diamond All-State Speech & Debate.”)
As of December 1, the following top seven students have already qualified for the four or more all-state diamond designations in high school Speech & Debate in the 2025-2026 competition season.
- Nine Diamond All-State Speech & Debate: Maximus Gamble of Dardanelle High School, qualifying in Congressional Debate, Duet Improvisation, Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, Informative Speaking, Original Oratory, Poetry Interpretation, Public Debate, & Public Forum Debate.
- Six Diamond All-State Speech & Debate: Alexander Gamble of Dardanelle High School, qualifying in Congressional Debate, Duet Improvisation, Original Oratory, Public Debate, Public Forum Debate, & Impromptu Speaking.
- Four Diamond All-State Speech & Debate: Nathan Inman of Cabot High School, qualifying in Dramatic Interpretation, Duet Improvisation, Humorous Interpretation, & Program of Oral Interpretation; Bryleigh Heaton of Dardanelle High School, qualifying in Duet Improvisation, Informative Speaking, Public Debate, & Public Forum Debate; Caleb Whittle of Har-Ber High School, qualifying in Congressional Debate, Dramatic Song Lyric Interpretation, Extemporaneous Speaking, & Public Debate; Emily Starkey of Har-Ber High School, qualifying in Congressional Debate, Impromptu Speaking, Original Oratory, & Public Forum Debate; Hannah Freeman of Har-Ber High School, qualifying in Dramatic Interpretation, Duet Improvisation, Oral Interpretation, & Poetry Interpretation; and Adrianna Cain of Morrilton High School, qualifying in Informative Speaking, Original Oratory, Poetry Interpretation, & Public Debate.
2026 All-State Speech & Debate (Fall 2025) List:
- Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts (7)
- Bentonville High School (17)
- Bentonville West High School (22)
- Cabot High School (17)
- Conway High School (11)
- Dardanelle High School (12)
- Don Tyson School of Innovation (7)
- Episcopal Collegiate School (16)
- Fayetteville High School (13)
- Haas Hall Academy (4)
- Hall-West High School of Innovation (1)
- Har-Ber High School (22)
- Joe T. Robinson High School (1)
- Little Rock Central High School (6)
- Mills University Studies High School (1)
- Morrilton High School (4)
- Mount St. Mary Academy (1)
- North Little Rock High School (2)
- Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School (9)
- Rogers Heritage High School (2)
- Russellville High School (9)
- Sylvan Hills High School (6)
- The Academies at Jonesboro High School (5)
Full Roster of 2026 All-State Speech & Debate (Fall 2025)
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