Michigan State University Debate has qualified three teams to the 79th annual National Debate Tournament (NDT).
Joanna Gusis, a Statistics and Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy junior in the Honors College, and Stephen Lewis, a Social Relations and Policy sophomore, automatically qualified to the national tournament after being designated as one of the top sixteen teams in the country.
Hina Shehzad, an International Relations sophomore, and Ephraim Bennett, a computer science senior, qualified to the NDT at a district qualifying tournament in February.
Third teams from a school need to be ranked as one of the top six third teams nationally to qualify for the NDT. Qualifiers are determined by a vote from coaches all over the country.
Based on their season-long success, Tony Miklovis, an International Relations and Social Relations and Policy senior in the Honors College, and Blaine Montford, a Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy sophomore in the Honors College, were selected.
MSU Debate has qualified three teams to five of the last seven National Debate Tournaments. The last time three teams from MSU qualified was in 2023.
“Being one of only six schools that is represented by three teams is an honor,” said Will Repko, MSU Debate Head Coach. “Having so many talented students on the team has made for a great season and we’re excited to close it out at the NDT.”
Only 78 teams nationally qualify to attend the NDT each year out of hundreds of teams that participate in the qualification process.
MSU has a history of success at the National Debate Tournament – the team has qualified for 29 consecutive years and has won the tournament three times.
The NDT will be hosted by Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington the first week in April.
The MSU Debate Team is part of the Honors College.