It has been a busy two weeks for the Emporia State Debate team. From Sept. 22 to 24, six Hornets competed at the Ulrich Invitational, hosted by the University of Northern Iowa. Traditionally junior-varsity competitors, these six approached the tournament as a learning opportunity by bravely taking the plunge into the varsity division for the first time this season.
They picked up some notable wins against fierce competitors from Concordia College and the University of Iowa, and Kalese Warfield placed in the top half of individual speakers at the tournament.
On Sept. 26, the partnership of Issie Engelbert and Arriq Singleton departed for a week’s worth of debates in Ogden, Utah. Emporia State ES was one of only nine partnerships from across the country selected to compete in the 21st Annual Val Browning Round Robin, hosted by Weber State University.
Over two days of intense competition, Singleton and Engelbert picked up wins against talented opponents from Baylor, UNLV, Gonzaga, West Georgia and Binghamton. They finished the round robin with an impressive record of 5-3, earning them an award for third place overall. Singleton also received an award for being the second best individual speaker.
After a short day’s worth of recuperation and preparation, the two Hornets were back debating at the Fifth Annual Mukai College Classic, also hosted by the Weber State Wildcats. Engelbert and Singleton finished the preliminary rounds at the Mukai with a striking 6-2 record. T
hey advanced to the single-elimination rounds as the No. 8 seed, where they defeated UMKC in the “Round of 32” before losing a close debate to the No. 9 seed, Cornell, in the “Sweet Sixteen.” Singleton also received an award for placing in the top 20 individual speakers at the tournament.
The Hornets are all back in the nest for the moment preparing to host the 62nd Annual George R.R. Pflaum debate tournament on ESU’s campus from Oct. 13 through 15.