History
Debate has a history dating back to at least the 1950s at Michigan State University.
MSU debate teams, housed with the Communication Department, competed in NDT-style debate throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
After a period of dormancy, the team was reformed in the early 1990s under the direction of Dr. James Roper, a professor of philosophy. With the support of Dr. Roper, alumni, and strong student support, the debate club achieved the status of a team at Michigan State University and competed in the Cross-Examination Debate Association beginning in the early 1990s.
The team achieved immediate success, winning the 1995 CEDA National Championship, becoming the first school to ever reach the finals of both the CEDA National Championship and the National Debate Tournament in 2000, and winning the CEDA Sweepstakes National Championship for season-long performance in 2002.
The MSU Debate Team has had 27 teams since 1997 (30 total) in the elimination rounds of the National Debate Tournament. That includes three championship teams, one finalist team and five final four showings. The NDT is attended by 78 teams and is hosted annually each spring.
National Champions
2010: Eric Lanning & Carly Wunderlich
2nd Speaker, Eric Lanning
17th Speaker, Carly Wunderlich
2006: Ryan Burke & Casey Harrigan
11th Speaker, Casey Harrigan
17th Speaker, Ryan Burke
2004: Greta Stahl & David Strauss
3rd Speaker, Greta Stahl
16th Speaker, David Strauss
Finalists
2000: Steve Donald & Aaron Monick
2nd Speaker, Steve Donald
11th Speaker, Aaron Monick
Final Four
2016: Tyler Thur & Marge Strong
10th Speaker, Marge Strong
16th Speaker, Tyler Thur
2004: Aaron Hardy & Shaun VanHorn
2003: Calum Matheson & Joe Siegmann
2nd Speaker, Calum Matheson
2002: Greta Stahl & David Strauss
14th Speaker, Greta Stahl
2001: Austin Carson & Calum Matheson
6th Speaker, Calum Matheson
20th Speaker, Austin Carson
1998: Erik Cornellier & John Sullivan
10th Speaker, John Sullivan
19th Speaker, Erik Cornellier
1968: Richard Brautigam & Charles Humphreys
2nd Speaker, Richard Brautigam
Quarterfinals
2015: Tyler Thur & Marge Strong
9th Speaker, Tyler Thur
11th Speaker, Marge Strong
2005: Aaron Hardy & Shaun VanHorn
7th Speaker, Shaun VanHorn
10th Speaker, Aaron Hardy
2003: Greta Stahl & David Strauss
6th Speaker, Greta Stahl
2002: Austin Carson & Calum Matheson
3rd Speaker, Calum Matheson
15th Speaker, Austin Carson
1999: Steve Donald & Aaron Monick
1969: Richard Foster & Charles Humphreys
10th Speaker, Charles Humphreys
Sweet Sixteen
2023: Nate Glancy & Piper Meloche
2017: Evan Runburg & Luc Walkington
2014: Tyler Thur & Kaavya Ramesh
19th Speaker, Kaavya Ramesh
2012: Evan Hebert & Kaavya Ramesh
2009: Garrett Abelkop & Carly Wunderlich
2008: Gus Eyzaguirre & Eric Lanning
1966: Richard Brautigam & James Hudek
18th Speaker, James Hudek
Double Octofinals
2024: Joanna Gusis & Tony Miklovis
2024: David Koster & Stephen Lewis
2022: Piper Meloche & Tony Miklovis
2022: Nate Glancy & David Koster
2016: Connor Munsinger & Luc Walkington
2015: Jack Caporal & Quinn Zemel
2014: Jack Caporal & Quinn Zemel
2013: Evan Hebert & Kaavya Ramesh
2011: Jessica Hockensmith & Kaavya Ramesh
2009: Amit Bindra & Gus Eyzaguirre
2008: Garrett Abelkop & Carly Wunderlich
2007: Amit Bindra & Garrett Abelkop
2007: James Donald Durkee & Andrea Reed
2005: Ryan Burke & Casey Harrigan
2003: Aaron Hardy & Anjali Vats
2001: Greta Stahl & David Strauss
1998: Matt Blair & Steve Donald
1997: Erik Cornellier & John Sullivan
The National Debate Tournament awards 16 first round, at-large bids to attend. These awards are gifted based on season-long success. The MSU Debate team has been awarded 23 first round, at-large bids since 1997 when the team re-joined the NDT after hiatus.
2024: Joanna Gusis & Tony Miklovis 13th
2016: Marge Strong & Tyler Thur 4th
2015: Marge Strong & Tyler Thur 6th
2015: Jack Caporal & Quinn Zemel 11th
2014: Tyler Thur & Kaavya Ramesh 14th
2013: Evan Hebert & Kaavya Ramesh 9th
2012: Evan Hebert & Kaavya Ramesh 14th
2010: Eric Lanning & Carly Wunderlich 3rd
2009: Garrett Ablekop & Carly Wunderlich 10th
2008: Gus Eyzaguirre & Eric Lanning 13th
2006: Ryan Burke & Casey Harrigan 3rd
2005: Aaron Hardy & Shaun VanHorn 4th
2005: Ryan Burke & Casey Harrigan 14th
2004: Greta Stahl & David Strauss 2nd
2004: Aaron Hardy & Shaun VanHorn 15th
2003: Greta Stahl & David Strauss 4th
2003: Calum Matheson & Joe Siegmann 7th
2002: Austin Carson & Calum Matheson 3rd
2002: Greta Stahl & David Strauss 6th
2001: Austin Carson & Calum Matheson 8th
2000: Steve Donald & Aaron Monick 4th
1999: Steve Donald & Aaron Monick 7th
1998: Erik Cornellier & John Sullivan 7th
1997: Erik Cornellier & John Sullivan 10th
National Champions
2002: Seasonal National Championship
1996: Seasonal National Championship
1995: Biza Repko & Jason Trice
4th Speaker, Biza Repko
10th Speaker, Jason Trice
Finalists
2002: Austin Carson & Calum Matheson
2000: Steve Donald & Aaron Monick
1997: Erik Cornellier & John Sullivan
1994: Biza Repko & Dave Devereaux (MSU/KSU)
Final Four
2002: Greta Stahl & David Strauss
2001: Austin Carson & Calum Matheson
1999: Steve Donald & Aaron Monick
Quarterfinalists
2007: Jimi Durkee & Andrea Reed
2005: Aaron Hardy & Shaun VanHorn
2004: Greta Stahl & David Strauss
3rd Speaker, Greta Stahl
2003: Greta Stahl & David Strauss
1998: Erik Cornellier & John Sullivan
1998: Katy Hoffman & Aaron Monick
1988: Matt Didaleusky & Tim Sommers
Sweet Sixteen
2008: Debbie Lai & Athena Murray
2004: Jimi Durkee & Casey Harrigan
2004: Aaron Hardy & Shaun VanHorn
2001: Greta Stahl & David Strauss
2000: Matt Blair & Austin Carson
2000: Anjali Vats & Alison Woidan
1996: Erik Cornellier & Jason Trice
6th Speaker, Jason Trice
1996: Ian Klinkhammer & Geoff Wyatt
Double Octofinals
2010: Tom Gliniecki & Sam Shore
2009: Tom Gliniecki & Sam Shore
2006: Garrett Abelkop & Andrea Reed
2006: Jimi Durkee & Jillian Tietjen
2005: Jimi Durkee & Andrea Reed
2004: Ryan Burke & Andrea Reed
2003: Calum Matheson & Joe Siegmann
2002: Anjali Vats & Amber Watkins
1999: Matt Blair & Austin Carson
1997: Katy Hoffman & Emily Owens
1993: Peter Camps & Biza Repko
Triple Octofinals
2010: Katie Klante & Josh Miller
2007: Athena Murray & Caitlyn Ryan
2007: Debbi Lai & Varsha Ramakrishnan
2007: Gus Ezaguirre & Carly Wunderlich
2006: Amit Bindra & Varsha Ramakrishnan
2005: Debbie Lai & Varsha Ramakrishnan
2003: Aaron Hardy & Anjali Vats
2003: Casey Harrigan & Maggie Ryan
2002: John Groen & Suzanne Sobotka
2001: John Groen & Suzanne Sobotka
2001: Alicia Hunt & Amber Watkins
2000: Geoff Lundeen & Calum Matheson
1999: Beth Bailey & Tara O’Dowd
1999: Bill Rand & Orion Smith
1999: Anjali Vats & Alison Woidan
1998: Bill Rand & Alison Woidan
1997: Matt Blair & Aaron Monick
1997: Bill Rand & Alison Woidan
1996: Biza Repko & John Sullivan
1st Speaker, Biza Repko
1995: Erik Cornellier & John Sullivan
1995: Sonny Kamberi & Judd Menkveld
1993: Matt Brinkley & Will Repko
Quad Octofinals
2005: Caitlin Duffy & Jillian Tietjen
Quarterfinalists
2022: Nate Glancy & David Koster
2017: Lena Grossman & Christian Rodriquez
2017: Luc Walkington & Evan Runburg
10th Speaker, Luc Walkington
Sweet Sixteen
2024: Joanna Gusis & Tony Miklovis
17th Speaker, Joanna Gusis
20th Speaker, Tony Miklovis
2024: David Koster & Stephen Lewis
2023: Nate Glancy & Tony Miklovis
2022: Piper Meloche & Tony Miklovis
4th Speaker, Piper Meloche
9th Speaker, Tony Miklovis
2021: Duvall Adair & Piper Meloche
2020: Lena Grossman & Ezra Serrins
2019: Lena Grossman & Ezra Serrins
2018: Alex Brown & Lauren Pepper
2018: Lena Grossman & Ezra Serrins
Double Octofinals
2023: Joanna Gusis & David Koster
2021: David Koster & Rylee Buchert (MSU/University of Tulsa)
2019: Evan Jones & Lauren Pepper
2021-current: Carly Watson
2011-2019: Casey Harrigan
2006-2011: Greta Stahl
2002-2006: Michael Eber
2000-2002: Jason Trice
1992-2000: Dr. James Roper