The Michigan State University debate team kicked off its first competition of the 2017-18 season at the Georgia State National College Debate Tournament, finishing in the top 16 out of 110 teams.
Conor Munsinger, economics junior, and Lena Grossman, political theory and constitutional democracy sophomore, secured the top 16 finish for MSU. The pair defeated teams from the University of Michigan, Northwestern University, George Mason University, University of West Georgia, Emory University and the University of Texas before falling to a team from the University of Georgia.
Alex Brown, a sophomore majoring in social relations and policy, and Lauren Pepper, an Honors College junior double majoring in zoology and public policy, also finished in the top 32.
Jack Scullion, Duvall Adair and Ezra Serrins, all freshmen in James Madison College, also competed for MSU along with Evan Jones, an Honors College freshman majoring in biosystems engineering, Briana Lewis, a senior majoring in comparative cultures and politics and Breanna Brill, a junior majoring in professional writing and political science.
“I was happy with our team’s performance at the first tournament of the competitive season,” said Will Repko, head coach. “We have a young group of debaters this year and I’m eager to see how the season unfolds.”
Next week, the MSU debate team will compete in a tournament at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.
The MSU debate team is a part of the Honors College.
