DeKalb Corn Classic

Registration	General information	Files for download	Tournament schedule	Fees	Final results

General information

This is a High School tournament in Illinois.

View manager contact information

September 4, 2025

Dear Coaches, Friends, Wellwishers, and Wary Travelers, 

As the saying goes, we reap as we sow. And so for all of you eager beavers out there who insist on sending out your invitations earlier and earlier each year, we can only say this: you brought this on yourself. Please check your inbox tomorrow for the invitation to our 2029 tournament as well! Ok, enough with the snide poignancy; let’s get to the deets of this year’s DeKalb Corn Classic Forensics Extravaganza.

DATE: Saturday, December 6th, 2025

STRUCTURE: Two flighted preliminary rounds (one being double-judged), and Varsity and Novice finals. Depending on the size of the tournament and the availability of judges, we will try to hold Next-In finals as well. Round 1A competition will begin at 8:00; Radio and Extemp are B events, so prep will begin at 8:30 and 8:45, respectively. Please plan to arrive no later than 7:30.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:

• 8:00 - Round 1A (DDA, HI, IS, OC, OD, OO, Prose)

• 9:15 - Round 1B (DI, Extemp, HDA, INF, Poetry, Radio, SOS)

• 10:45 - Round 2A (DDA, HI, IS, OC, OD, OO, Prose)

• 12:00 - Round 2B (DI, Extemp, HDA, INF, Poetry, Radio, SOS)

• 1:45 - Final Rounds (all events)

• 3:15 - Awards

ENTRY: Feel free to enter as many speakers in each event as you like (your entry fee will be based on your total number of entries).  Team sweepstakes will be determined using your top two speakers in each event.  Teams will register online using SpeechWire. Students may triple-enter as long as their events are not all in the same flight (see A/B splits in the time schedule above).

JUDGES: Each team is expected to bring one qualified judge for every six entries.  If you wish to bring extra entries, you will need to bring extra judges as well.  Hired judges may be available at a cost of $100 per judge.

FEES: 1 – 14 entries: $100

15 – 28  entries: $150 

29 – 42 entries: $200

43 – 56 entries: $250

57+ entries: $300

EVENTS: All 14 IHSA events. 

AWARDS: Awards will be provided for all individual finalists (varsity and novice). Depending on numbers, we may also hold next-in finals. For the top three teams, a donation will be made in your team’s name to the charity of your choice.

REGISTRATION: Begins at 7:00am.  

ENTRY DEADLINE:  Friday, November 21st

FINAL POSTING ON SPEECHWIRE: Friday, December 5th by 12:00pm

RULES: Impromptu – IHSA rules will apply.  

Radio – Prep for EACH prelim, and prep again for finals.

Extemp – Prep for EACH prelim, and prep again for finals.  

IHSA rules regarding the use of computers during prep will apply (see the 2024-25 Speech Event Summaries).

Time – Only used formally in Radio as per IHSA rules.

We hope to see you on the 6th!

Greg Solomon & T. J. Fontana

DeKalb High School 

501 W. Dresser Rd

DeKalb, Illinois 60115

(815) 754-2100

gsolomon@d428.org  – (815) 757-1401

tfontana@d428.org  – (815) 901-7692

If you have drops on the day of the tournament please text or call T. J. ASAP at (815) 901-7692.

Manager contact information

T. J. Fontana
Email address: tfontana@d428.org
Phone number: 815-901-7692

Mailing address

501 W. Dresser Rd.
DeKalb, IL 60115