UW Debate Team Maintains Winning Streak

October 29, 2010

The University of Wyoming debate team took its season-opening momentum into the month of October with impressive performances for both the policy and parliamentary halves of the squad, boasting two final four appearances, a top speaker award and 25 total victories and wins against some of the most elite schools in the country.
            
In parliamentary debate action, the Cowboys attended the Golden Gate Invitational Debates, hosted by the University of California. Nearly 60 teams were in attendance, representing the Pacific and Mountain West regions. Seniors Kathryn Starkey of Jackson Hole and Jeremiah Etcheverry of Rock Springs continued their strong performance with victories over Oregon, Western Washington, Washburn and Concordia-Irvine en route to a seventh-place finish.

Another pair of seniors opened their season at California. Nick Larmer of Gillette and Isaac McBride of Boise, Idaho, went on a dominating run through the elimination rounds, finishing in the final four. Along the way, the duo gathered wins against Washburn, Nevada-Reno, California, Oregon and Pepperdine.

The policy half of the squad traveled to the Las Vegas Classic, hosted by UNLV. With nearly 120 teams in attendance, it was the largest tournament of the year that the Cowboys have attended thus far.

Wyoming had four teams in attendance: Senior Mike Bausch (Boise, Idaho) and sophomore Kacey Ballard (Green River); sophomores Jared Fanning (Cheyenne) and Amy Pauli (Green River); sophomore Kathleen Bouzis (Omaha) and freshman Jon Swartz (Cheyenne); and freshmen Ben Berry (Cheyenne) and Darshan Patel (Newcastle).

The most impressive performance for the Cowboys was once again provided by Ballard and Bausch. They finished in the final four with an impressive string of victories. They defeated elite competition from Dartmouth, Northwestern, Emory, California and Cal-State Fullerton. Ballard and Bausch's matchup and subsequent defeat of Idaho State in the elite eight was especially gratifying, as ISU is one of UW's most skilled regional rivals.

Bausch was also recognized for his impressive speaking abilities, once again laying claim to the tournament's overall Top Speaker award (his third such award this season).

The squad is now back in Laramie gearing up for November competitions at Colorado College, Northwest College in Powell, Whitman College and Wake Forest University.

For those who may have missed coverage of the team's success in September, please read: http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/cojo/showrelease.asp?id=46502.

Find us on Instagram (Link opens a new window)Find us on Facebook (Link opens a new window)Find us on Twitter (Link opens a new window)Find us on LinkedIn (Link opens a new window)Find us on YouTube (Link opens a new window)