McKendree Debaters Sweep at Webster's Study Break Tournament

(LEBANON, Ill., December 15, 2015) - The McKendree University speech and debate team wrapped up its fall competition with a first place team finish at Webster University’s Study Break tournament, winning both the junior and novice divisions.

Five colleges and universities, including DePauw University, Missouri Western State University, and the University of Missouri, attended the tournament on Dec. 5. Representing McKendree were senior Lauren Apetz; juniors Taylor Rossi and Brittany Watt; sophomores Beth Graham, David Junge, and Adam Kaul; and first-years Mickey Causey, Justin Fausz, Kaitlyn Hutchison, Jazzmine Mitchell, and Andrew Wagner. Sophomores Alex Baldwin and Gage Simmons served as student coaches.

In the junior division, the team of Graham and Kaul posted a 4-0 record. They defeated Webster University in finals to win the tournament. Apetz and Junge finished 2-2, taking third place in the division. Junge was the second place speaker, while Kaul and Graham were third and fourth, respectively.

In the novice division, the team of Hutchison and Mitchell also went 4-0 in prelims. Along with Fausz, who went 3-1 debating ‘maverick,’ they took first and second place, closing out finals. The team of Rossi and Wagner, also posted a 3-1 record, taking third place, while Causey and Watt went 1-3 and finished fifth. Fausz won second place speaker, while Wagner, Rossi, Hutchison and Mitchell finished third, fourth, seventh and eighth, respectively.

The team will compete at John Brown University’s Golden Eagle tournament in January.

 

Front row, McKendree University debaters Taylor Rossi, Beth Graham, Alex Baldwin, Jazzmine Mitchell, Mickey Causey, Kaitlyn Hutchison, and Brittany Watt; back row, Andrew Wagner, Justin Fausz, Adam Kaul, Gage Simmons, Lauren Apetz, and David Junge.