Speech and Debate Team Finishes Top Five

Hannah Morris

U of A Speech And Debate in front of Idaho Capitol building

Over spring break, the U of A Speech and Debate Society flew to Boise, Idaho, to compete against colleges representing 21 states at the International Public Debate Association's National Championship Tournament and Convention. Members Hadley Adkison, Sophie Barrentine, Megan Dial, Maddie Fritz, Max Green, Luke Hubbard, Jacob Hurbanek, Austin Keefe, Jacqueline Maldonado Martínez, Jaci Sabatini, Luke Thurmon and Jack VanDyke traveled to Boise and saw many successes in their time competing. 

During the regular season of competition, the team in total racked up 63 awards, including two champion debaters, as well as a handful of sweepstakes awards.

In season-long placement, which takes into account all of the team's success during the debate season, the team ranked:

• Sixth place scholastic award (only takes into account undergraduate students) in the country
• Sixth place founder's award (takes into account graduate students/professionals as well as undergraduates) in the country
• Sixth place JV debater in the country (Luke Hubbard) 
• Fourth place JV squad in the country

At the national tournament itself, the team saw even more success. Green was ranked second place junior varsity speaker, as well as was a junior varsity double octafinalist (top 32 in the country). Hubbard and Keefe were also double octafinalists in the junior varsity and varsity divisions respectively. Adkison was a varsity quarterfinalist, marking a top eight finish. Coach Jacob Holland, who also represents the U of A's Law School, was sixth place professional speaker at the tournament and became the U of A's first national champion, winning the professional division at the tournament. 

All of these national tournament awards led to the team placing:

• Sixth place founder's award, national tournament
• Fifth place scholastic award, national tournament
• Fifth place overall team, national tournament

Finally, coach Hannah Morris was nominated a third time for the Bennett Strange Coach of the Year Award, which takes into account team success as well as individual success in coaching. 

The team will now take a much-earned break until August. However, if you are interested in joining this nationally recognized organization, please contact president Megan Dial at mmdial@uark.edu or coach Hannah Morris at hannahm@uark.edu.