Topeka, Kan. - This past weekend, Oct. 21 and 22, the Washburn University debate team traveled to Missouri to compete in the “Missouri Mule” Lincoln Douglas debate tournament hosted by the University of Central Missouri. Washburn debate finished strong in their second tournament of the season with five members of the team qualifying to elimination rounds.
Tournament results:
- Jacob Bailes (sophomore) was a semifinalist in varsity competition, with Bailes earning the ninth overall speaker position. Only Washburn University, Vanderbilt University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with two debaters had debaters in the finals.- Braxton Kindel (freshman) was a semifinalist in junior varsity (JV) competition, with Kindel earning the second overall JV speaker position.
- Cade Blenden (sophomore) was an Octafinalist (final eight) in varsity competition, earning the third overall speaker position.
- Dan Archer (junior) was an Octafinalist in varsity competition, earning the fifth overall speaker position.
- Jenna Gorton (senior) was an Octafinalist in varsity competition, earning the seventh overall speaker position.
Washburn debaters who competed were: Dan Archer (junior), Jacob Bailes (sophomore), Cade Belden (sophomore), Jenna Gorton (senior), Braxton Kindel (freshman), Logan Michael (freshman), Andrew Rea (junior), Carlos Cedillo-Silva (senior) and Hunter Squires (sophomore). Dr. Kevin O’Leary, director of debate and senior lecturer for communication studies for Washburn University, and Steve Doubledee, assistant director of debate and senior lecturer for communication studies for Washburn University, are the debate coaches for Washburn University.
Other universities that participated in this tournament are the University of Central Missouri, Illinois State University, Missouri State University, Missouri Valley College, University of North Texas and Truman State University.
Washburn University debate will travel to Illinois State in early November for their next tournament.
The Washburn University debate program focuses on Linclon-Douglas, or LD, debate format. LD is a debate format that follows the basic time schedule 6 - 3 - 7 - 3 - 4 - 6 - 3. Each debater gets thirteen minutes of total speaking time, and three minutes of question time. The rounds take approximately 45 minutes in total. Each debater receives four to five minutes of preparation time to use between speeches however they like. The NFA Lincoln Douglas competitive year runs from September to April.
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For further information, contact:
Joy Bailes
Assistant Director of Public Relations
Office: 785-670-2153
Cell: 785-230-1648
Email: joy.bailes@washburn.edu
