The Michigan State University debate team kicked off its first tournament competition of the 2014-15 season with a finish in the quarterfinals.
International relations senior Jack Caporal and his partner, international relations senior Quinn Zemel, bested teams from the University of Kansas and Wake Forest University, but lost on a split 3-2 decision to a team from Northwestern University.
“There’s always a lot of energy heading into the first competition of the year and finishing with a team in the top eight was a strong showing for us,” said head coach Will Repko. “The first tournament helps the students get a lay of the land in terms of the competition out there and get prepared for the long season ahead.”
Tyler Thur, an Honors College member and international relations junior, and his partner, math junior Margaret Strong, also had a strong showing and finished in the top 16 (also known as the octa-finals).
Overall, seven teams competed in the Georgia State University tournament, including: Lizzie Prete, James Madison undecided freshman; Breana Brill, political science freshman; Shannon Nierman, education junior; Shannon Fagan, Honors College, social relations and policy sophomore; Briana Lewis, James Madison undecided freshman; Linda Lay, Honors College, biosystems engineering junior; Darcell Brown, political science sophomore; Jonass Placitis, social relations and policy sophomore; Sohela Suri, James Madison undecided sophomore; and Wayne Campbell accounting freshman.
The next tournament in which the MSU debate team will compete will be held at the University of Kentucky Sept. 30-Oct. 2. MSU was one of nine top teams in the country chosen to also compete in the Kentucky Round Robin.