The University of Wyoming policy debate team is ranked first in the region, according to the National Debate Tournament sweepstakes rankings.
UW tops the list in District 9, ranking above teams including Idaho State, Nevada-Las Vegas, Weber State, Arizona State, Denver and Eastern New Mexico.
UW is ranked 14th in the nation in policy debate, higher than teams such as Harvard and Michigan State universities.
At the recent University of Utah debate, parliamentary debaters Jared Bressler of Casper and Mike McDonald of Worland finished in third place, while the team of Andrea Garfinkel of Fort Collins, Colo., and Jeremiah Etcheverry of Rock Springs advanced to the quarterfinals. Garfinkel was the tournament's fifth-best individual speaker and McDonald eighth.
During the three days of competition in Salt Lake City, the team debated topics including international piracy, BLM reform, alternative energy, child labor, the right to water, land mines and whaling.
Posted on Wednesday, January 28, 2009
