Forensics State Championship

Thirty-eight members of the BHHS Forensics Team concluded the Michigan Interscholastic Forensic Association Individual Events competition season at the State Finals May 1-2 at Eastern Michigan University. With 40+ high school programs in attendance, the Black Hawk team earned third place overall in Class A team competition.

Impressively, 32 students advanced to the elimination rounds and received individual awards and three students won State Championships! 

2026 MIFA STATE CHAMPIONS:

Summer Alhimiri (grade 12) / *Addie Sherman (grade 12) – Duo Commentary

*Valeria Embarcadero-Perez (grade 12) – Original Oratory

Stephen LaBond (grade 9) – Prose Interpretation (9/10 Division)

3rd place

Zeena Jandali (grade 11) / *Katie Tadesse (grade 12) – Duo Commentary

Jared She (grade 11) – Original Oratory

*Saffiyah Walji (grade 12) – Sales Presentation

4th place

Max Ganezer (grade 12), Addison Grundner (grade 10), Carson Miller (grade 12), Lily Novetsky (grade 11), Christian Salgado (grade 12) – Multiple Interpretation

5th place

Sophie Galizia-Korniusza (grade 9) – Children’s Storytelling

Rynah Mehta (grade 9) – Prose Interpretation (9/10 Division)

Carter Phillips (grade 9) – Program Oral Interpretation

Lillian Tang (grade 10) – Dramatic Interpretation

6th place

Aleena Bukhari (grade 11) – Extemporaneous Speaking

*Julia LaBond (grade 12) / *Jaymie Miller (grade 12) – Duo Interpretation

*Payton Renusch (grade 12) – Children’s Storytelling

7th place

Alissa Abraham (grade 11) – Poetry Interpretation

Hunter Borenstein (grade 9) / Maddalen Klop (grade 11) – Duo Interpretation

Katiana Kostoff (grade 12) – Media Broadcasting

Magdalena Leonard (grade 12) – Dramatic Interpretation

* Denotes 2026 Team Captain