Topeka, Kan. –National Champions for the 2023/2024 season in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, the Washburn University debate team won the first tournament of the 2024/2025 season. Washburn hosted the “Washburn National Warm Up” online Lincoln-Douglas Debate style tournament Sept. 14 – 15 for 17 universities and colleges across the country.
In the Open Division, Andrew Rea (senior) was the tournament champion, Cade Blenden (senior) placed second and was deemed overall top speaker, Jacob Bailes (senior) and Hunter Squires (senior) were both quarterfinalists, placing in the top 16.
In the Junior Varsity Division, Alfonso Rascon (sophomore) was crowned tournament champion, Wendo Kimori (sophomore) was the tournament runner-up and earned the top speaker position and Olivia Fonseca (freshman) was a semifinalist. Ziona Jackson (freshman) and Jyaira Ware (sophomore) also participated in the tournament.
In the Novice Division, Khalani Britt (sophomore) placed second overall, Chrisangel Adame (freshman) was a semifinalist and was deemed the top speaker and Madeline O’Leary-Worsley (freshman) was a semifinalist. JoAnna Marks (senior) was a quarterfinalist and Daisy Larson (freshman) was a quarterfinalist, both placing in the top eight.
Many Washburn debate alumni helped judge and coach this tournament: Quintin Brown, ’17, Carlos Martin-Cedillo,’23, Jenna Gorton,’23 and current graduate student in Washburn’s master’s communication and leadership program, Logan Michael,’24, Matt Parnell, ’18, and Emily Unruh,’21. Shanna Carlson,’10 and director of debate at Illinois State University was the director of tabulation for the tournament. And, Brian Bloss, a former debater for Western Kentucky University, helped as well.
“This tournament helps launch the new debate season, allowing these debaters to start trying out their research and arguments for the new topic,” said Dr. Kevin O’Leary, director of debate and senior lecturer for communication studies for Washburn University. “Teams have been preparing since the topic was released in August and it’s exciting to hear what has been prepared, and it’s nice to have the debate community together again.”
The topic for the 2024/2025 debate season is “The United States Federal Government should substantially increase prohibitions on the development and/or use of artificial intelligence in one or more of the following areas: law enforcement, automation, and/or privacy.”
Joining Washburn at this tournament were California State University, Long Beach, Florida State University, Illinois College, Illinois State University, Kansas City Kansas Community College, Lewis and Clark College, Missouri State University, Missouri Valley College, Simpson College, Texas State University, Texas Tech University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of North Texas, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Western Kentucky University and the University of Pittsburgh.
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. The Washburn University debate program focuses on Lincoln-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 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.
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Founded in 1865, Washburn University is a public institution with more than 6,000 students involved in more than 200 academic programs. Washburn’s programs lead to certification, associate, bachelor, master's degree or doctor of nursing practice and juris doctor degrees. The programs are offered through Washburn’s six primary academic units – College of Arts and Sciences, School of Applied Studies, School of Business, School of Nursing, School of Law and Washburn Institute of Technology (Washburn Tech).
All programs are offered on either the 160-acre residential campus in the heart of Topeka, Kan., at Washburn Tech’s campus on Topeka’s west side or in the east Topeka facility. Washburn University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association and many of the individual programs have additional accreditations.
