Tulane Debate sent several teams to NDPA Nationals for the first time last week! The tournament took place in Long Beach, CA, and was a great growing experience for the whole team as debaters. Our youngest team, Khristyan Trejo and Alexander Parini, broke to outrounds, which is no small feat at a tournament this large and this competitive. Khristyan was also the top novice speaker of the entire tournament. Congrats to Khris and Alexander, as well as to the other Tulane teams that competed. Special thank yous go out to our coaches and judges, especially Storey Clayton, Alex Jubb, and Elise Matton, as well as everyone else who helped us make our trip to Nationals a reality.
ULL Novice Nationals
This past weekend, Tulane Debate sent six new members to compete at NPDA Novice Nationals at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette. Sophia Angeletti, a freshman, was the 6th top speaker at the tournament and she and her partner Laurel Greilich advanced all the way to the final round, following a 3-0 decision in their favor in semifinals. The tournament really helped Tulane to show off its new talent, and all teams represented the university well.
Southern Forensics Championship Tournament
The last week of January 2016, Tulane Debate sent five teams of debaters to compete in the Southern Forensics Championship Tournament in Shreveport, LA. Cody Beaird, debating as part of a hybrid team and in his first year of debate, broke to semifinals and was the top NPDA speaker of the tournament. Susannah Wright and James Capuzzi also advanced to semi-finals. The team of Alexander Parini and Armand Keshishian made it to the final round, with Alexander also winning the 3rd top speaker award of the tournament. Great job to everyone who competed!
Tennessee Porch Swing Tournament
Tulane Debate finished off the Fall Semester by competing at the annual Tennessee Porch Swing NPDA tournament. Freshman team Khristyan Trejo and Samm Clark were the 2nd-place novice team of the tournament, earning 1st and 2nd place novice speaker awards, respectively. Tim DeCotis and Claire Kueffner advanced to varsity semifinals, and the team of Alexander Parini and Armand Keshishian got 2nd place at the tournament after advancing all the way to the final round. It was a strong showing from many of Tulane Debate’s newer members and we look forward to continued success in the spring.
Pejaver Memorial Tournament
On October 30th-31st, Tulane Debate team traveled to the Pejaver Memorial Debate Tournament at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The team did very well at the tournament, winning both 1st place NPDA and 2nd place overall sweepstakes awards. The team of Susannah Wright and Michelle Daker made it to Quarterfinals, and the team of Jackson Oglesby and Cody Beaird advanced all the way to the semifinals. Tim DeCotis and Claire Kueffner continued their recent success from Morehouse College by once again winning the tournament. Tim was awarded 4th varsity speaker award, and Jackson and Cody won additional top novice speaker awards and top novice team. Roll wave! 