USU Debate Team Competes Again

Utah State University’s Speech and Debate Team competed at the largest comprehensive speech and debate tournament of the year. The team returned from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore., with a first place finish in debate and fifth in the overall sweepstakes, according to coach Tom Worthen.

Forty-eight colleges and universities, representing 11 states, competed at the tournament, Worthen said. The Lewis and Clark Tournament was Oct. 9-11 and was the first of three Northwest Forensic Conference tournaments the team will attend.

USU’s team earned multiple individual awards that contributed to the sweepstakes fifth place finish. Annie Worthen earned 12 wins with three losses to place first in IPDA debate. She also took third place in informative speaking, fourth place in persuasive speaking and was named the fourth-best debate speaker at the tournament.

Joseph Allred placed first in persuasive speaking and sixth in extemporaneous speaking. Mariah Andreasen earned fifth place in after dinner speaking and was recognized as the second-best debate speaker. Bridget Baldwin placed third in persuasive speaking, fourth in informative speaking and fifth in debate. Ben Powell placed fourth in IPDA debate and was named the seventh-best debate speaker.

In team awards, Haylee Hunsaker and Garrett Smith placed ninth in British Parliamentary debate and Haylee was recognized as the tenth-best debate speaker.

USU’s team next travels to Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., Nov. 13-15.

Worthen was pleased with the team's performance.

"This tournament showed depth to the team as it was the new team members who won the most awards, yet the returning members also made a solid contribution,” he said. “We are always proud of how our USU team does with the resources we have. Other teams have budgets eight to ten times USU's budget, yet we consistently compete in the final rounds and place in overall sweepstakes. I love the students at USU and am thankful for the support that is given to us."

For more information on the team or the tournament, contact Worthen, 435-994-0023, drtom@poeticpower.com.