The Michigan State University debate team finished in the top eight out of 124 teams competing in the Texas Open tournament this week.
Representing MSU in the quarterfinals was the pair of Honors College and international relations senior Tyler Thur and mathematics senior Margaret Strong. Thur and Strong defeated teams from the University of Kansas, Baylor University, Emory University, the University of Kentucky and the University of Southern California before falling to a team from Rutgers University-Newark.
Professional writing sophomore Breana Brill, Honors College physics freshman Evan Runburg, Honors College computer science sophomore Connor Munsinger and international relations freshman Luc Walkington also competed for MSU in Texas, but did not make it to the elimination rounds.
“Marge and Tyler have had a brilliant debate season and finished strong at the Texas Open,” said head coach Will Repko. “Our team is looking forward to district competitions, and ultimately, the National Debate Tournament coming up later this semester.”
The Texas Open was the last major national tournament of the spring before the National Debate Tournament. Bids for the NDT will be announced throughout the coming weeks. The 70th annual NDT will be held March 30-April 5 at Binghampton University in Binghampton, New York.
The debate team is part of the Honors College.