USU Debate Team Returns from First Meet of the Semester

Utah State University’s speech and debate team returned from its first tournament this semester where it competed against 25 universities from 12 states. Utah State took second place overall as a team, losing only to Carroll College in Montana. Schools competing at the tournament included the U.S. Air Force Academy, Cal State Berkeley, the University of Washington, University of Wyoming, Pepperdine and the University of South Carolina.

 

Individually, Jane McBride and Nick West took first place in debate, and the team of Chelsi Sutton and Eric Peatross took fourth place. Sutton also received the award as the best overall debator.

 

Team members were awarded 18 individual awards in several categories of speech events.

 

Eric Peatross took first place in persuasive speaking and will represent the state of Utah and USU at the Interstate Oratory Competition to be held in Florida in April. Receiving a perfect score at the tournament, Peatross was recognized as the top persuasive speaker in the state of Utah.

 

Other Individual winners included Richard Walker, placing second in persuasive speaking and second in informative speaking; Eric Whitehead, first in informative speaking; Jane McBride, third in persuasive speaking; Shannon Johnson, fourth in persuasive speaking; Eric Peatross, fourth in dramatic interpretation; Chelsi Sutton, fifth in extemporaneous speaking and second in informative speaking; Tom Grover, second in extemporaneous speaking; Diane Lewis, third in informative speaking and sixth in dramatic interpretation.

 

Other individual debaters who received speaker awards were Konrad Mathesius, second place; Jane McBride, third place; Nick West, fourth place; Eric Peatross, fifth place; and Natalie Coleman, 10th place.

 

The USU team will next travel to Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash., to compete in the final Northwest Forensics Conference Tournament. As the defending conference champions, it has a significant lead on the other 32 universities in the conference and is expected to repeat as champion. The team is coached by volunteer coach Tom Worthen.