UW Debate Team Argues Through Successful Fall Semester

November 28, 2012

The University of Wyoming debate team competed in six separate tournaments this semester with wins against several prominent colleges.

The first series of debates was the Jesuit Invitational Debates, hosted by Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., earlier this fall. The UW team of senior Jared Fanning and junior Ben Berry, both from Cheyenne, missed the cutoff for the Jesuit tournament’s sweet 16 but posted victories against both Whitman College and the University of Texas.

The second team of senior Amy Pauli of Green River and sophomore Mary Marcum of Omaha, Neb., scored an impressive 5-1 record. They lost the semifinals debate on a 2-1 decision to the eventual tournament champions from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).

“I am really proud of both of our teams,” Graduate Assistant Mike Bausch says, “Collectively, this may be the best start to our season in a long time.”

The debate season continued two weeks later at Idaho State University (ISU). Senior Kathleen Bouzis of Omaha, Neb., and sophomore Bethany Jones of Green River contributed wins over Gonzaga University and ISU. Freshman Nate Graziano and junior Pete Steiner, both from Fort Collins, Colo., scored victories over Weber State University and ISU. Juniors Cullen Dilldine of Craig, Colo., and Hunter McFarland of Twin Falls, Idaho, defeated Whitman College, Gonzaga, ISU and Weber State, placing second overall.

At the UNLV Invitational, Pauli and Marcum won over the University of Texas, University of Oklahoma, Kansas State University, California State University, Chico and UNLV before being eliminated by a team from the University of Kansas. Berry and Fanning defeated Arizona State University, Kansas and Baylor University. Graziano and Steiner defeated two Gonzaga University teams while Bouzis and Jones defeated a team from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

At the University of Central Oklahoma’s Joe C. Jackson debates early in November, UW had two teams advance to elimination rounds. Dilldine and Bouzis had victories over Oklahoma, Wichita State University, Kansas and the University of Central Oklahoma. The pair enjoyed a run into the final four of the tournament where they lost to the University of Texas. Jones and Frame appeared in the elite eight in junior varsity, posting victories over Kansas City Community College, Emporia State University and Lindenwood College.

The team’s next tournaments are after the winter break in January with back-to-back competitions at the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of North Texas.

For more information about the team, visit www.uwyo.edu/cojo/debate/. Follow the debate team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wyoming.debate.

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