The MISL season
A typical season runs four tournaments hosted by member colleges, from a novice-friendly fall mini through the State Championship. Students from any Michigan college or university are welcome to compete.
This season at a glance
Late September
MISL Mini + Workshop
Saginaw Valley State U.
Four events for novices — Informative, Prose, Dramatic Interpretation, Impromptu — plus a full slate of coaching workshops. Free and open to any Michigan college student.
Early December
Fall MISL
Ferris State U. / EMU
The season-opening invitational. All individual events offered across two flights.
February
Novice State Championships
Northwood U.
The state title for first-year and novice competitors, historically hosted on Northwood's campus.
Early March
MISL State Championships
Wayne State U. / EMU
The championship tournament. Undergraduate students working toward their first bachelor's degree compete; spectators are welcome to watch.
Specific dates and host campuses rotate each year. To register students for competition, member schools use SpeechWire; workshop registration is handled separately per tournament.
How a tournament day runs
A representative single-day schedule. Times shift by host, but the two-flight rhythm is consistent.
| 8:30 AM | Registration |
|---|---|
| 9:00 AM | Extemp prep / draw |
| 9:30 AM | Round 1 — Flight A |
| 11:00 AM | Round 2 — Flight A |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch break |
| 1:15 PM | Round 1 — Flight B |
| 2:30 PM | Round 2 — Flight B |
| 3:30 PM | Extemp draw — finals |
| 4:00 PM | Finals — Flight A |
| 5:15 PM | Finals — Flight B |
| After finals | Awards ceremony |
The two flights
Events are split into two flights so competitors can enter multiple categories without conflicts.
Flight A
Extemporaneous, Dramatic Interpretation, Informative, Rhetorical Criticism, Poetry, Duo
Flight B
Persuasive, After Dinner Speaking, Prose, Impromptu, Program Oral Interpretation
No team at your school?
Students at a Michigan college or university without an active forensic team can still get involved and compete. Reach out to the league’s Executive Director to learn how — see Officers for contacts.