Munster High School returned as the Ralph Lawson Award Winners and overall State Champions from the 2016 Indiana High School Forensic Association State Finals. The State Finals were held at Fishers High School in Fishers, Indiana on March 12th.This is Munster's sixth state championship in the past seven years. Munster has won the State Title a total of 16 times. Munster High School earned 182 sweepstakes points over Fisher High School's 156 point finish. Chesterton High School finished third with 135 points. Munster faced over 100 high schools from across the state.
Munster sent 28 students to the semi-finals and set a record. Munster finished with 16 state finalists and 4 individual state champions. Ani Arzumanian, a junior, was crowned a Double State Champion, only the 4th student in Munster High School's history. Cody Reinsma and Ani Arzumanioan were crowned State Champions in Scripted Duo Interpretation. Ani won the State Title in Humorous Interpretation. Anna Bilse won the State Title in Declamation. First-Team All State members include the following: Ani Arzumanian, Anna Bilse, Trey DeLuna, Alexandra Raycroft, Vivian Reba, Cody Reinsma, Tatiana Shinkan, and Peyton Tinder. Second Team All-State Members include the following members: Tara Layous, Maya Radjenovich. The team is coaches by Michael Buck, Kathleen Boyle, Helen Engstrom (Indiana and National Hall of Fame Member), Don Fortner (Indiana Hall of Fame Member), Kathleen Gross, Jordan Mayer (Indiana Hall of Fame), Kenn O'Drobinak, Ryan Pohrte, Stephanie Sepiol.
Jordan Mayer coaches as well as serves as the Director of Munster High School Speech and Debate. Jordan Mayer has been involved with the program since competing on the team in 1994. Helen Engstrom started the program in 1965 and is still actively involved.