Washburn University Debate Continues their Winning Streak

      Topeka, Kan. – National Champions for the 2023/2024 season in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, the Washburn University debate team continued their winning streak on the road in Missouri. They won the second tournament of the 2024/2025 season, the “Missouri Mule” hosted by the University of Central Missouri Oct. 12 – 13. This tournament was held in two sections, almost two fully unique tournaments on each day.

     Saturday, Oct. 12, in the Open Division, Cade Blenden (senior) placed second, or was the runner up, Hunter Squires (senior) and Alfonso Rascon (sophomore) advanced to quarterfinals, and Jacob Bailes (senior) and Olivia Fonseca (freshman) were in the octafinals, or top 16. Bailes was crowned top speaker of the Saturday portion of the tournament.

     In the Novice Division, Chrisangel Adame (freshman), Khalani Britt (sophomore), Sophie Grover (freshman) and Madeline O’Leary-Worsley (freshman) comprised the entirety of the final four debaters. O’Leary-Worsley was the Saturday Novice Division champion and was named top speaker. JoAnna Marks (senior) advanced to the quarterfinals.

     Sunday, Oct. 13, in the Open Division, Bailes was crowned the champion, with Blenden advancing through to the semifinals.

     In the Junior Varsity Division, Fonseca, Ziona Jackson (freshman) and Wendo Kimori (sophomore) advanced to the final four of the tournament, with Fonseca being crowned the Junior Varsity Division champion.

     In the Novice Division, Grover was the tournament champion and was deemed the overall top speaker. O’Leary-Worsley advanced through to semifinals. Britt, Daisy Larson (freshman) and Marks were in the quarterfinals.

     Washburn debate alumni helped judge and coach this tournament: Jenna Gorton,’23 and current graduate student in Washburn’s master’s communication and leadership program, Logan Michael,’24, and Emily Unruh,’21.

     “This tournament really showed the strength of our team,” said Dr. Kevin O’Leary, director of debate and senior lecturer for communication studies for Washburn University. “We saw what they have been practicing since August, individual talents and team work all come together to help them bring home results - overall, as a team and individually as tournament champions.”

    Joining Washburn at this tournament were Crowder College, Dallas Baptist University, Harding University, Illinois University, Illinois State University, Kansas City Community College, Lee College, Louisiana State University Shreveport, Missouri Valley College, Ottawa University, Park University, Simpson College, Southeast Missouri State University, Southwest Baptist University, Sterling College, Texas State University, Texas Tech University, University of Central Missouri, Truman State University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Webster University.

     Washburn Debate won the first tournament of the 2024/2025 season, the “Washburn National Warm Up,” an online tournament Sept. 14 – 15 in which 17 universities and colleges across the country participated.

      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.