McKendree Debaters Beat 39 Teams, Win Overall Sweepstakes
13 Individual Awards at Webster University Tournament
Lebanon, Ill. — The McKendree University debate team captured its second consecutive overall sweepstakes championship at Webster University
on Jan. 27-29. The team also captured first place in debate sweepstakes and the Pi
Kappa Delta Award, along with 13 individual awards. Forty colleges and universities
competed, including Ohio State University, Rice, and Truman State.
Representing McKendree were seniors Sarah Brown, Anna Chambers, Zak Kilhoffer and
Chris Polanc; juniors Lance Allen, Mat Myles, Ben Reid and Ian Reynolds; and sophomores
Lucas Barker, Trent Boyer, Eddie Cox, Alex Cunningham, Sarah DeBruyckere, Hannah Ebersohl,
Josh Fleming, Brent Nicholson, Brad Thomas and Amanda Walker.
In open parliamentary debate, the team of Nicholson and Reid posted a 5-1 record.
After advancing over teammates in octofinals and quarterfinals, they defeated William
Jewell College in semifinals. They took second place after losing in finals to another
William Jewell team in finals.
Reynolds and Thomas also went 5-1, beating Hillsdale College in octofinals and Sterling
College in quarterfinals, before finishing as semifinalists. Barker and Myles had
a 5-1 record and finished as quarterfinalists, after defeating a William Jewell team
in octofinals. The team of Cunningham and Kilhoffer, as well as the team of Allen
and Cox, went 4-2 to finish as octofinalists. Cox was the third place speaker, while
Reynolds, Thomas and Cunningham took fourth, ninth and 10th place, respectively.
In novice parliamentary debate, the team of Boyer and Walker went 4-2 and finished
as quarterfinalists.
In open Lincoln-Douglas debate, both Kilhoffer and Myles posted 4-2 records and finished
as octofinalists. Kilhoffer was the 3rd place speaker in the division.
Up next for the McKendree debaters is Murray State University’s Jackson Purchase Swing,
Feb. 3-5.
-McK-
