Washburn University Debate Team are Tournament Winners in the McGaffey Invitational

     Topeka, Kan. - This past weekend, Feb. 18-19, the Washburn University debate team competed in an online Lincoln-Douglas debate tournament, the McGaffey Invitational, hosted by the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. The Washburn University debate team won the Overall Squad Sweepstakes, with team members taking first through third place in varsity competition and second in junior varsity.

Tournament results:

- Carlos Cedillo (senior) took first place in varsity competition and was named fourth overall speaker.
- Jenna Gorton (senior) was runner-up (or second place) in varsity competition and was the Top Speaker Champion.
- Daniel Archer (junior) made it to the semi-finals in varsity competition and was named the third overall speaker.
- Jacob Bailes (sophomore), Cade Blenden (sophomore) and Logan Michael (freshman) all advanced to quarter finals in varsity competition.
- Braxton Kindel (freshman) was runner-up (or second place) in junior varsity competition.

     “The entire team did extremely well at this tournament, with almost everyone advancing into quarter final competition,” said Dr. Kevin O’Leary, director of debate and senior lecturer for communication studies for Washburn University.  “They’re really putting their skills and techniques they’ve been building on in the fall into practice and we’re really showing the competitiveness of the Washburn debate program.”

     Washburn University won the overall tournament with the University of North Texas taking second in Team Sweeps and California State University, Fullerton taking third. Teams from Central Michigan University, Concordia University Irvine, University of Illinois, Illinois State University, John Carroll University, Lewis & Clark University, University of Minnesota, Missouri Valley College, Pennsylvania State University, Texas State University and University of Nebraska at Lincoln also competed.

     The Washburn University debate program focuses on Lincoln-Douglas, or LD, debate format. LD follows the basic time schedule 6 - 3 - 7 - 3 - 4 - 6 - 3. Each debater gets 13 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. O’Leary and Steve Doubledee, assistant director of debate and senior lecturer for communication studies for Washburn University, are the debate coaches for Washburn University.

- 30 - 

For further information, contact: