The LSU Shreveport debate team began the season strong with a win at the Lee College Mendoza Debate Tournament in Baytown, Texas this week.
Twelve other debate programs competed in the competition in this start of the 2015-2016 debate season.
The debate team began with the Team Division competition on Friday winning 75% of its preliminary rounds. Elizabeth Kemp, senior, political science, and John Brown, junior, psychology, made it to the finals and placed second in the competition. Each debater earned speaker awards in the Team Division.
At the Individual Division competition Saturday morning, the LSUS debate team finished the preliminary competition with a win-loss record of 78-53 for a winning percentage of nearly 60%. Eleven debaters proceeded to the elimination rounds.
Malvya Chintakindi, senior, public relations, took first place in the Professional Division.
Kemp took second place in the Varsity Division, while Lance Rich, junior, computer science, and Prince Lofton, junior, mass communications, made it to the quarterfinals.
The LSUS team also had a great run in the Junior Varsity Division. James Bohn, sophomore, biology, earned the division’s first place speaker award and finished as a quarterfinalist along with teammate Julian Lawrence, junior, english. Freshman Rhys Waters finished as a semifinalist.
Finally, in the Novice Division, Kamaya Jiles, junior, digital arts, made it to the semifinals. Zhara Abd, freshman, forensic biology, made it to the quarterfinals and Caitlyn Moore, senior, psychology, finished as an octafinalist.
The LSUS debate team will be traveling to Monticello, Arkansas for its next tournament at UAM on October 2-4th.
Printer-friendly version