McKendree Debaters Go Undefeated at Washburn University!
Four Teams Now Qualify for National Tournament
Lebanon, Ill. — McKendree University debaters Ben Reid and Ian Reynolds went undefeated
to take first place at Washburn University – the team’s third tournament win this
fall. Representing McKendree were seniors Reid and Reynolds; juniors Lucas Barker,
Alex Cunningham, Sarah DeBruyckere, Brent Nicholson and Amanda Walker; and first-year
Quinn McRoberts.
They competed Nov. 9 to 11 in Topeka, Kan., against students from 13 colleges and
universities, including the University of Texas, University of Colorado, and University
of Puget Sound.
Reid and Reynolds posted a 7-0 record in preliminary rounds. In octofinals, they defeated
Sterling College on the topic of removing missile defense from Europe. In quarterfinals,
they beat the University of Pacific on the topic of helium-3 mining. In semifinals,
they defeated William Jewell College – the top-ranked team in the country – on the
topic of ratifying the Basel Convention on the transboundary shipment of hazardous
waste. In finals, they triumphed over another William Jewell team on the topic of
establishing a safe zone in Syria, to win the tournament.
Barker and DeBruyckere went 4-3 in prelims, finishing in 17th place after losing in the double-octofinal round to the University of the Pacific.
Reid was recognized as the second speaker at the tournament, while Nicholson took
fifth place.
McKendree now has four teams qualified for the prestigious National Parliamentary
Tournament of Excellence in March: Reid and Reynolds; Barker and DeBruyckere; Cunningham
and Nicholson; Mat Myles and Brad Thomas.
The debaters will compete at Webster University’s Study Break tournament on Dec. 1.
-McK-
