KU News Release

Jan. 30, 2008
Contact: Scott Harris, debate coach, (785) 864-9878.

KU debate team ends January as nation’s top-ranked varsity squad

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas debate team has kicked off the 2008 spring semester with a No. 1 overall ranking in the National Debate Tournament varsity debate after strong showings at several tournaments.

In the NDT varsity rankings KU leads Emory University, second; Harvard University, third; Northwestern University, fourth; and Wake Forest University, fifth.

Eight KU debate teams won awards at tournaments in January.

At the Herbert James Invitational tournament hosted by Dartmouth College on Jan. 26-28, Brett Bricker, Wichita senior, and Andrew Jennings, Silver Lake junior, took second place with a 5-1 record. The tournament is an invitational round-robin for the top seven teams in the country. KU defeated Harvard, Dartmouth, Northwestern, University of California-Berkeley and Wake Forest. Emory University won the tournament, and Harvard finished third. Bricker won the award for the top individual debater at the tournament.

“It is the best finish ever for Kansas at the Dartmouth round-robin, ”said KU debate coach Scott Harris.

At the University of Texas at Dallas tournament Jan. 12-14, KU’s team of Chris Stone, Derby junior, and Nathaniel Johnson, Manhattan senior, took first place in a field of 60 teams. KU’s teams of Ronnie Press, Wichita junior, and Dylan Quigley, Wichita sophomore, finished fifth. KU teams Joel Kasten, Wichita junior, and Sean Kennedy, Leawood freshman; Erum Shah, Overland Park senior, and Mark Wilkins, Topeka freshman; and Christopher Thomas, Overland Park sophomore, and Kyle Shernuk, Overland Park senior, also won awards at the tournament.

In the Jan. 19-21 Emporia State University tournament, KU teams Thomas and Shernuk took second place; Mathew Petersen, Wichita sophomore, and Andrew Jack, freshman from Manhattan and Lawrence, took third place; and Shah and Kennedy finished fifth.

Over the winter break, Bricker and Jennings competed at tournaments at the University of Southern California, among 82 teams, and the University of California-Fullerton, 90 teams competing. They were the first- and second-place individual debaters at the Fullerton tournament.

“The overall squad performance has allowed Kansas to hold the No. 1 ranking in varsity debate,” Harris said. Following Kansas in the top 10 are Emory, Harvard, Northwestern, Wake Forest, Dartmouth, Binghamton, Michigan State, UC-Berkeley and Missouri State.

The National Debate Tournament will be March 28-31 at UC-Fullerton. KU has sent more teams to the NDT than any college or university. By qualifying for 39 consecutive years, KU has the second-longest active streak of any college or university in the United States. KU debaters have won the national title four times and reached the Final Four rounds 13 times.

Debate team members who competed in January are listed below by hometown, year in school, major, parents’ names and high school, when available.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66049 and Manhattan 66503
Andrew Jack, freshman in chemical engineering, son of Steven Jack, Lawrence, and of Pamela Jack, Manhattan; Manhattan High School.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Leawood 66206
Sean Kennedy, freshman in linguistics, son of Chris and Joan Kennedy; Shawnee Mission East High School.

From Overland Park 66213
Kyle Shernuk, senior in East Asian languages and cultures preparing to study medicine, son of Kurt and Pamela Shernuk; Blue Valley Northwest High School.

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

From Overland Park 66224
Erum Shah, senior in political science, daughter of Pir and Saieda Shah; Blue Valley Northwest High School.

RILEY COUNTY
From Manhattan 66502
Nathaniel Johnson, senior in philosophy, political science and psychology, son of Ron and Betty Johnson; Manhattan High School.

From Manhattan 66503 and Lawrence 66049
Andrew Jack. See DOUGLAS COUNTY.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Derby 67037
Christopher Stone, sophomore in political science, son of Douglas and Gloria Stone; Derby High School.

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

Ronnie Press, junior in political science, son of Arthur and Judith Press; Wichita High School Southeast.

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

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

From Wichita 67218
Mathew Petersen, sophomore in economics, son of Laura Peterson-Miller and Virgil Miller; Wichita High School East.

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

From Topeka 66604 and 66610
Mark Wilkins, freshman in political science, son of Brent Wilkins and of Janis Hinkle; Washburn Rural High School.

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