JV debaters win top spot in Missouri

The University debate team finished in the top three at the debate season opener, Dr. Dennis Cali, department of communications chairman, said.

Freshmen Addison Gribbin, an English major, and Michael Jones, an accounting major, placed first in the junior varsity division. In the preliminary debates, Gribbin and Jones were undefeated.

"We were excited with how well we did," Gribbin said. "It's a great thing to go undefeated and with the tournament. We can't wait for the rest of the season."

Juniors Alex Warren, an economics major, and Travis Smith, a political science and speech communication major, placed third in the varsity division. In the preliminary debates, Warren and Smith were undefeated.

"We achieved two goals at this tournament," Smith said. "First, we established a name for ourselves. People now see us and know they have to be on their A-game. Second, we set a tempo for the year. We believe we can be successful throughout the year."

Warren and Smith defeated teams from William Jewell College, Texas Tech University, Southern Illinois University and McKendree University.

Warren and Smith also were selected as one of eight teams to participate in the prestigious University of Puget Sound on October 17-22.

"The round robin is a big deal," Warren said. "It's typically some of the best teams in the nation and to be selected is a way of saying that we have achieved a new level of recognition in the debate world."

The next tournament on the team's schedule is one at Lonestar College in Kingwood, co-hosted by Rice University.

For more information about the University debate program, contact Dr. Charles Walts, director of forensics, at 903-565-5627 or CWalts@uttyler.edu.