Utah State University Debaters take First Place in National Tournament

Results from a recent national tournament are in and debaters from Utah State University are among the nation’s best.

 

Members of USU’s Speech and Debate team returned from the Pi Kappa Delta National Comprehensive Tournament in Minneapolis, Minn., March 19-21, with multiple honors, including a first place team finish in debate sweepstakes.

 

“Our Speech and Debate Team has followed its impressive regional season and accomplishments with a strong showing on the national stage,” said Yolanda Flores Niemann, dean of USU’s College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, the academic home for the team. “We are incredibly proud, and I offer my heartiest congratulations.”

 

USU’s team competes in the Northwest Forensic Conference and in 2010 repeated as the conference champion for the sixth time in as many years. However, 2010 marks the first time in recent history that the team has attended a national competition. In addition to taking the sweepstakes or top prize in debate, USU’s team placed eighth in the overall sweepstakes.

 

The team is based in USU’s Department of Languages, Philosophy and Speech Communication in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.

 

Earlier this year, the USU team, along with coach Tom Worthen, was honored in February at a session of the Utah Legislature for its remarkable six-year record. The team, accompanied by Dean Niemann, was recognized from the floor of the Senate and later by the House of Representatives. The honor was part of the legislature’s effort to acknowledge top programs and accomplishments, including first place rankings in the state.

 

Dean Niemann accompanied the students on the bus to and from Salt Lake City for the legislative honors. During the trip, the students practiced parts of their speeches, demonstrating their skills for the dean.

 

“I was deeply impressed by the incredible talent and dedication of our students,” Niemann said. “I thought they deserved an opportunity to showcase their talent and represent USU at the most significant national competition for speech and debate teams.”

 

Following the trip, the dean provided the support necessary for the team to travel to the Pi Kappa Delta tournament and compete in the national arena.

 

“With only a few weeks notice, we were able to make the travel arrangements and prepare in time for the competition,” Worthen said. “We are extremely happy with the results.”

 

At the national meet, 57 universities from across the country competed, with 1,200 entries in speech and more than 200 debaters, Worthen said. USU had 11 students at the competition, and all were recognized for individual excellence. The top 30 percent of the students competing in each speech event were recognized with an award.

 

USU achieved its top finish in debate thanks to the efforts of its individual debaters. The team of Daniel Quarnberg and Jeff Denison took first place with a record of 14 wins and one loss. The team of Tim Worthen and Justin Jerez placed third in team debate.

 

In IPDA — International Public Debate Association — single person debate, John Kimball took third place, Bryce Draper and Peter Daines tied for fifth place and Andy Bouwman took ninth place.

 

Team placement is based on win-loss records of the debaters, but students can also be recognized as individuals for the quality of their speaking during debates.

 

USU took five of the top debate speaker awards at the tournament. Jeff Denison took first place in the team debate speaker awards, Tim Worthen placed second and Dan Quarnberg placed fifth.

 

In the IPDA single person debate speaker awards, Bryce Draper took first and John Kimball placed third.

 

“For a school to take first in two different styles of debate reflects the quality of the team,” Worthen said.

 

The strong finish at a national tournament is an important advance for speech and debate at USU.

 

“For the past six years, USU speech and debate has proven itself to be a dominant force in the western United States,” he said. “It was a great opportunity to take these same students and compete so successfully for the national championship. We now know that the team can compete on a national level.”

 

In addition to the debate honors, USU team members were recognized for excellence in speech events. Stephanie Lewis took first place in Student Congress and was given an engraved gavel as a top presiding officer. Justin Hinh took fifth place in Student Congress and was also awarded an engraved gavel. Jeff Denison took seventh place in Informative Speaking, thirteenth place in Persuasive Speaking and twenty-fifth place in Dramatic Interpretation of Literature. Bryce Draper took thirteenth place in Informative Speaking. Katelyn Wallace and John Kimball also tied for twenty-fifth place in Informative Speaking.

 

The Pi Kappa Delta National Comprehensive Tournament marks the last tournament of the 2009-10 season for USU. This appearance by USU at a national speech and debate event is the first since 1982. Worthen, the team’s current coach, qualified and competed at that event, also held in Minnesota.

 

The 2009-10 USU squad includes Timothy (Tim) Worthen, Stephanie Lewis, Katelyn Wallace, Bryce Draper, Justin Hinh, Peter Daines, John Kimball, Justin Jerez, Andrea (Andy) Bouwman, Jeff Denison and Dan Quarnberg. A number of individuals have supported the team’s efforts during the season, including coach Worthen and judges Jane McBride, James Boyd, Clayton Coleman, Mike Smith, Eric Peatross and Diane (Di) Lewis.

 

For more information about USU’s Speech and Debate team, contact Worthen, (435) 554-0023.

 

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Source: USU Debate

Contact: Tom Worthen, (435) 554-0023, 1235rivendell@comcast.net