KU News Release

KU debate team No. 1 in two national debate rankings

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas debate team is ranked first in the country in the National Debate Tournament and Cross Examination Debate Association national points rankings.

The rankings are based on KU’s performance at the first five tournaments of the season. KU debaters have won two tournaments and finished second at a third tournament.

The national rankings are based on the points earned by teams competing at various tournaments. Last year, KU ended the season ranked first in the NDT varsity rankings and second in the overall NDT and CEDA rankings. At this point in the 2006-07 season, KU is ranked first in all three categories.

KU students Chris Thomas, Overland Park freshman, and Kyle Shernuk, Wichita junior, went 9-0 in winning a tournament held Oct. 13-15 at Kansas City Kansas Community College. They defeated a team from the University of Oklahoma in the final round.

Joel Kasten and Dylan Quigley, both Wichita freshmen, won a tournament held Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at Missouri State University by defeating Kansas State University in the final debate. Lindsey Lathrop, Overland Park junior, and Nate Johnson, Manhattan junior, placed second at the Sept. 16-18 tournament at the University of Northern Iowa. The KU team of Andrew Jennings, Silver Lake junior, and Brett Bricker, Wichita junior, finished sixth out of 150 teams Oct. 4 at the University of Kentucky.

KU student debaters are listed below by name, hometown, level in school, major, parents’ names and high school.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Overland Park 66213
Lindsay Lathrop, senior in political science with a minor in African and African-American studies, daughter of Robert and Kelly Lathrop; Blue Valley Northwest High School.

Kyle Shermuk, junior in pre-medicine, son of Kurt and Pamela Shermuk; Blue Valley Northwest High School.

Chris Thomas, freshman in political science, son of Denise Stock; Blue Valley Northwest High School.

RILEY COUNTY
From Manhattan 66502
Nate Johnson, junior in political science and pre-law, son of Ron and Betty Johnson; Manhattan High School.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita 67206
Brett Bricker, junior in mathematics, son of Gary and Norma Bricker; Wichita High School Southeast.

From Wichita 67207
Joel Kasten, freshman in political science, son of Roger and Leah Kasten; Wichita High School Southeast.

From Wichita 67208 and 67218
Dylan Quigley, freshman in philosophy, son of Tim Quigley (67218) and Trix Niemberger (67208); Wichita High School East.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Silver Lake 66539
Andrew Jennings, junior in political science, son of Joe and Kathy Jennings, Silver Lake Junior-Senior High School.

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