For the first time in program history, two Spartan debaters won the University of Minnesota College Debate Invitational last weekend.
The Michigan State University Debate duo of Zaria Jarman and Hina Shehzad bested a field of over fifty entries from all over the country, securing the tournament title in the early morning hours on Monday, Oct. 19 after three full days of competing.
Big Wins on the Road to Victory
The pair of fourth-year debaters in MSU’s James Madison College won five of their six preliminary debates and entered elimination rounds as the third overall seed. Jarman is pursuing a political theory and constitutional democracy major, while Shehzad studies international relations.
“Hina and Zaria had several big wins in their preliminary debates,” said Will Repko, MSU Debate Head Coach. “They defeated a team from Georgetown University early in the tournament and then the University of Southern California in the last round before elimination rounds.”
Elimination round seeding also factors in each debater’s individual speaker points from all their preliminary debates. In a field of over 100 debaters, Jarman was the tournament’s second overall speaker, and Shehzad was 11th.
“Elimination rounds at tournaments are like March Madness – lose and you go home,” said Repko, describing the single-elimination bracket format. After entering elimination rounds, Jarman and Shehzad won four straight debates on their road to victory, including over teams from the University of Michigan and Emory University.
“This is an incredible achievement for Hina and Zaria,” said MSU Debate Assistant Coach Jasmine Stidham. “You have to be extremely prepared and debating at the top of your game to win a tournament, so the whole team is immensely proud.”
Other Successes Demonstrate Squad’s Depth
In addition to Jarman and Shehzad, three other teams represented MSU at the University of Minnesota College Debate Invitational and scored big wins.
Second-year student Isabella Foster and first-year Addison Morris reached the Sweet 16 with wins over Dartmouth College and the University of Minnesota along the way. Foster was ninth speaker and Morris was 10th. Both debaters are Honors College students studying philosophy through the College of Arts and Letters.
First-year students Artie Kincaid and Neel Patel also reached the Sweet 16 and placed in the top twenty-five speakers. Kincaid is an Honors College student majoring in communicative sciences and disorders through the College of Communication Arts and Sciences, while Patel is majoring in international relations through James Madison College and economics through the College of Social Science.
In the junior varsity division, first-year students Dame DeMaria and Jack Humphrey reached the quarterfinals (Elite Eight) from a field of fourteen. Humphrey earned twelfth speaker in the division. DeMaria studies political theory and constitutional democracy through James Madison College, while Humphrey is pursuing a secondary education major through the College of Education.
“This weekend was a complete whirlwind, but the team performed well and came out on top,” said Repko. “We would’ve loved to see a win for the football team this weekend too, but we’re thrilled that MSU Debate was able to put some Big Ten wins on the board.”
MSU Debate is housed within the Honors College.