The ESU debate team started off the spring semester strong as four Hornets competed over winter break at a set of back-to-back tournaments known as the “California Swing.” Students from 40 colleges and universities representing 22 states converged on the University of California – Berkeley campus for an intense seven days of competition.
The new open partnership of Arriq Singleton and Kalese Warfield had a stellar showing at the first tournament. Emporia State SW finished with an impressive 4-2 record after the preliminary rounds of competition. After advancing to the elimination debates as the No. 14 seed, they eventually bowed out as double-octofinalists.
Singleton and Warfield also placed as the 24th and 25th individual speakers out of a field of 162 students. While they narrowly missed qualifying to the elimination debates at the second tournament, they managed to pick up impressive wins against competitors from the University of Nevada – Las Vegas, George Mason University, and Kansas State University.
The team of Noel Keil and Squid Monteith made just their second foray into the open division as a partnership. While Emporia State KM fell short of qualifying for elimination rounds at both tournaments, they picked up quality wins against students from the University of Washington, George Mason University, and Cornell University.
In other team news, further collegiate debate rankings have been released highlighting the explosive success the team enjoyed during the fall semester.
Out of 84 participating schools nationwide, Emporia State University finished No. 14 on the National Debate Tournament Ranking Report after accruing 246 points. This put the Hornets collectively ahead of fantastic competitors from schools such as Harvard, Dartmouth and Georgetown among others. Additionally, out of 16 schools participating in ESU’s district, Emporia State University finished No. 3 on the list, edging out in-state rivals Wichita State (No. 10) and Kansas State (No. 14).