USU Team Takes First in Debate, Second Overall

The Utah State University debate team returned from Northwest College in Powell, Wyo., with a first place award in the debate division of the competition. Competing against 12 schools from five states, USU’s speech and debate team placed second overall in the team sweepstakes. Casper College took first overall.

The debate team of Mike Smith and Becca Powell competed in the final round, winning on a 3-0 ballot to a team from Sheridan College in Montana.

 

Shannon Johnson partnered with a student from Northwest College and placed fourth in junior parliamentary debate. Leah Reigle and Courtney Hanhe were undefeated in six preliminary rounds in novice debate and lost in the quarterfinals, placing fourth at the tournament. The novice debate team of Amber Winward and Shelly Daines also lost in quarterfinals to place fourth at the tournament.

 

In debate, USU received more wins than any university at the tournament, according to coach Tom Worthen.

 

Individually, Shannon Johnson was recognized as the top junior debater at the tournament, and Leah Reigle was recognized as the top novice debater.

 

Bryce Draper placed first in informative speaking and sixth in poetry interpretation. Mike Smith placed second in informative speaking. Becca Powell placed second in persuasive speaking. Tim Worthen placed fourth in persuasive speaking. Shelly Daines placed fourth in informative speaking. Zach Myers placed fifth in extemporaneous speaking.

 

The team will attend its first Northwest Forensic Conference Tournament Nov. 14-16, at Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore.

 

For information on the USU speech and debate team, contact Worthern, (435) 994-0023.

 

Contact: Tom Worthen (435) 994-0023, DrTom@poeticpower.com
Source: Debate team