The Michigan State University Debate team has received two first-round bids for the National Debate Tournament – designating them as two of top 16 teams in the country.
This is the first time MSU has qualified two teams in the first round since 2005.
The MSU team members receiving early bids are Tyler Thur, an Honors College junior majoring in international relations, math junior Margaret Strong, international relations senior Jack Caporal and international relations senior Quinn Zemel.
All four students competed in the national tournament last year. Thur competed with a different partner and finished in the top 16. Caporal and Zemel finished in the top 32 and Strong, who also competed with a different partner, did not qualify for the elimination rounds.
Other colleges that earned at-large bids include: the University of Michigan, Harvard University, Northwestern University, the University Minnesota, the University of California-Berkeley, Emory University, George Mason University, Georgetown University, Kansas University, the University of Oklahoma and Wake Forest University.
MSU was one of four colleges to receive the maximum of two teams entered into the competition. U-M, Harvard and UC-Berkeley were the others.
“Bids are voted on by a panel of coaches from around the country and are based on season-long performance,” said Debate Head Coach Will Repko. “Jack, Quinn, Marge and Tyler have performed exceptionally this season and deserve this recognition.”
The national tournament will be held at the University of Iowa from April 3-6, 2015.
By receiving an at-large, first-round bid, these students automatically qualify for the national tournament, bypassing the normal procedure.
The MSU Debate Team is a part of the Honors College.