Three teams from MSU Debate attended the National Debate Tournament (NDT) hosted this year by Gonzaga University and two teams qualified for elimination rounds.
Tony Miklovis, an International Relations and Social Relations and Policy senior, and Blaine Montford, a Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy sophomore in the Honors College, advanced as the 22nd seed after besting teams from Emory University, the University of California – Berkeley, California State University – Fullerton, Baylor University, and Southwestern University.
Joanna Gusis, a Statistics and Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy junior in the Honors College, and Stephen Lewis, a Social Relations and Policy sophomore, qualified to elimination debates as the 26th seed after defeating teams from the University of Southern California, the University of Kentucky, the University of Houston, and James Madison University.
Qualifying for elimination debates requires winning five or more preliminary rounds, placing these two teams in the top 28 at the tournament overall. Both teams lost close debates in the double octafinals.
“Having two teams in the elimination rounds was an exciting results for the team,” said Will Repko, MSU Debate Head Coach. “These students have worked hard all season so it’s great to have that recognized.”
MSU was also represented at the NDT by Hina Shehzad, an International Relations sophomore, and Ephraim Bennett, a computer science senior, who defeated teams from Missouri State University, Gonzaga University, and Southwestern University. Shehzad and Bennett were ranked 30th with their preliminary debate records, narrowly missing qualifying for elimination rounds.
The NDT is the culminating tournament in competitive intercollegiate policy debate, and only 78 teams are permitted to qualify. Gusis and Lewis qualified as the eighth team overall after receiving an automatic invitation to compete. Shehzad and Bennett qualified as the second team out of the district qualifying tournament. Miklovis and Montford qualified as one of the top six third teams based on the votes by coaches across the country.
“The team has so much to be proud of looking back on this season. We won two tournaments, made deep runs to elimination debates, placed third at the Kentucky Round Robin, had a team finish in the top ten, and qualified three teams to the NDT,” said Carly Watson, MSU Director of Debate.
The MSU Debate team is part of the Honors College.
By Miaomiao Zi