By Carly Watson and Melanie Brender
For the first time in ten years, a team from Michigan State University Debate reached the Elite Eight at the National Debate Tournament (NDT).
MSU debaters Joanna Gusis and Stephen Lewis entered the tournament seeded in the top sixteen nationally and competed against the top 78 teams nationally to finish in the quarterfinals.
“This season is one for the history books,” said MSU Head Debate Coach Will Repko. “We have an incredible group of students, and they did incredibly special things all year. It’s sad to see some of these amazing students graduate, but the future of the program is bright.”
Appearance in the Elite Eight
Gusis – a fourth-year Honors College student majoring in statistics, as well as political theory and constitutional democracy – and Lewis – a third-year student majoring in social relations and policy – participated in eight preliminary rounds to determine their seeding for elimination rounds. They won six preliminary debates after defeating teams from the University of Michigan, Northwestern University, Wake Forest University, the University of Iowa, Missouri State University, and the University of Georgia.
“Joanna and Stephen had a really strong showing in preliminary debates,” said Repko. “They were well-prepared, felt like they were debating well, and it showed in their results.”
In addition to wins and losses, debaters were also awarded individual speaker points in each of their preliminary debates to determine their seed. Out of over 150 participants, Lewis was the tournament’s thirteenth overall speaker and Gusis was eighth.
“It should go without saying that making an appearance in the top twenty speakers is exceptionally hard to do,” said Repko. “Joanna and Stephen were not only winning their debates but proving that they truly stand out amongst their peers.”
Once the preliminary rounds were over, the tournament proceeded as a single-elimination bracket. Based on their six preliminary round wins and strong speaker points, Gusis and Lewis entered the elimination rounds as the fifth seed.
Gusis and Lewis defeated a team from Harvard University in the Round of 32 and a team from Dartmouth College in the Sweet Sixteen before being narrowly bested in the Elite Eight.
“MSU Debate consistently competes against the most talented students and debaters in the country from the top universities,” said MSU Assistant Debate Coach Jasmine Stidham. “Joanna and Stephen’s run at the NDT proves that MSU Debate is one of the premiere debate programs out there.”
Reaching the Elite Eight at the National Debate Tournament caps what has been an elite competitive season for Gusis and Lewis. They reached the Final Four at two major open tournaments – the JW Patterson Debates hosted by the University of Kentucky and the Franklin R. Shirley Classic at Wake Forest University – and previously reached the Sweet Sixteen at the American Debate Association National Tournament.
Strong squad performance
MSU Debate has a 30-year streak qualifying for the NDT and the Spartans were represented there by three two-person teams, which is an honor granted to six of the top schools in the country.
Arielle Gearring – a fourth-year political theory and constitutional democracy student – and Hina Shehzad – a third-year international relations junior – had a strong showing at the tournament and defeated teams from the University of Southern California, James Madison University, the University of Kentucky, and the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Previously this season, Gearring and Shehzad reached elimination rounds at the Texas Tournament, participated in the Baird Debates Round Robin, and were in the Sweet Sixteen of the American Debate Association National Tournament.
“To be able to represent MSU through our debate team was a privilege and honor,” said Gearring. “Being a part of something special makes you special and everyone part of MSU debate is so special to me.”
Isabella Foster – a first-year Honors College student majoring in philosophy and film – and Henry Martin – a first-year Honors College student majoring in physics and philosophy – also scored four wins at the NDT after besting teams from Wake Forest University, the University of Oklahoma, Houston University, and the University of Northern Iowa.
Foster and Martin have been one of the winningest first-year duos in the country this season. They were in elimination rounds at the Georgetown Tournament and the Navy Tournament. They also finished second in the race for the Front Royal Cup presented by the American Debate Association.
MSU Debate is part of the Honors College.