Chubbuck teen becomes Idaho’s first national speech champion

Idaho has a lot to celebrate after one of its own took home first place in the National Speech and Debate Association Tournament last week in Dallas.

Eighteen-year-old Josh Mansfield of Chubbuck beat more than 500 others in the category of impromptu speaking, becoming the first national winner from Idaho in the 85-year history of the tournament.

“Just like a 10-year-old dreams about winning the Superbowl, it’s just something everybody thinks of. You always think of giving the perfect speech and standing up on stage and getting that award,” Mansfield said.

Only four percent of all contenders nationwide make it as far as the national tournament. Mansfield, a member of the Highland High School Speech and Debate Team at the time, has been four years in a row.

Last year he made 10th place, but said he never dreamed of making history.

“The furthest anyone from Idaho has made it was third place and that was almost six or seven years ago,” Mansfield said.

Mansfield had only minutes to prepare and only learned of his speaking prompt as he went before the judges.

His topic?

“Sometimes my mind not only wanders, but it leaves me completely,” Mansfield said.

Mansfield has completed his final year at Highland and has been called to serve his LDS mission in Paris.

He said he hopes his fellow Idahoans follow in his footsteps and attempt future national wins.