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KU debaters start 2008-09 season with wins at two tournaments on opening weekend
LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas debate team opened the 2008-09 season by winning 10 individual and team trophies at the first two tournaments of the year. KU competed Sept. 19-23 at events hosted by Georgia State University and the University of Northern Iowa.
“We are very excited that we can have six teams competing in two locations on a single weekend and perform so well,” said Scott Harris, debate coach. “It is a testament to the depth and quality of the team this year.”
Last year, KU finished as the No. 1 team in the country in the National Debate Tournament varsity rankings.
At Georgia State, KU had three of the top individual debaters at the tournament out of a field of 240 competitors representing 120 teams. Brett Bricker, Wichita senior, took home the first place individual debater trophy. Other individual awards went to Nate Johnson, Manhattan senior, ninth; and Christopher Stone, Derby sophomore, 11th.
The Bricker-Johnson team opened the season with 10 consecutive wins at the Georgia State event. They were 8-0 and the first-place team through preliminary rounds defeating the University of Georgia, Emory University, Samford University, the University of Iowa, Harvard University, Northwestern University (twice) and Missouri State University. They won two more debates in single elimination defeating teams from Emory and Harvard before losing to a team from Emory to finish in fifth place. That Emory team won the tournament by defeating a Northwestern team that the Bricker-Johnson team had defeated in preliminary rounds.
The team of Stone and Mathew Petersen, Wichita sophomore, finished among the top 20 teams at the tournament. In preliminary rounds, they won six debates over teams from Emory, Georgia, Harvard (twice), Trinity University and Wake Forest University. They lost to Northwestern and Wake Forest, then to West Georgia State University.
Dylan Quigley, Wichita junior, and Sean Kennedy, Leawood sophomore, went 4-4 at the tournament. Other Big 12 schools competing at the Georgia State tournament included Baylor University, Kansas State University, the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas.
At the Northern Iowa tournament, KU teams took second place in the varsity and junior varsity divisions. Wichita State University won the tournament.
The team of Mark Wilkins, Topeka freshman, and Andrew Jack, Lawrence sophomore, went 6-2 in preliminary rounds and advanced to the finals of the tournament by defeating Kansas State in the quarterfinals and the University of Texas-San Antonio in the semifinals. The team of Erum Shah, Overland Park senior, and Patrick Kennedy, Leawood freshman, went 5-3 in preliminary rounds to finish ninth at the tournament. Patrick Kennedy received the award for the second place individual speaker at the tournament.
In junior varsity competition, the team of Alyssa Kennedy, Lee’s Summit, Mo., freshman, and Kai Davis, Wichita freshman, placed second, with Alyssa Kennedy receiving the ninth place individual speaker award.
During the fall semester, KU debaters plan to take part in about 12 intercollegiate tournaments throughout the United States. Bricker and Johnson will be competing in a round robin invitational tournament Oct. 1-2 at the University of Kentucky for a spot as one of the preseason top nine teams in the country. The other eight schools scheduled to compete are Emory, Harvard, Michigan State University, Northwestern, Towson University, University of California-Berkeley, University of Southern California and Wake Forest.
Harris is in his 18th year coaching the debate team. Communication studies students assisting Harris this year are doctoral students Brian DeLong, Winston-Salem, N.C.; Phillip Samuels, Lawrence; Michael Souders, Manhattan; Sarah Topp, Lawrence; Ben Warner, Price, Utah; and Kelly Winfrey, Raymore, Mo.; and master’s degree students Travis Cram, Cheyenne, Wyo.; Athena Murray, Dorr, Mich.; and Lindsey Shook, Tulsa, Okla.
Debate team members are listed below by hometown, year in school, major, parents’ names and high school, when available.
DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66049 and Manhattan
Andrew Jack, sophomore in chemical engineering, son of Steven Jack of Lawrence and Pamela Jack of Manhattan; Manhattan High School.
JOHNSON COUNTY
From Leawood 66206
Patrick Kennedy, freshman in engineering, son of Chris and Joan Kennedy; Shawnee Mission East High School.
Sean Kennedy, sophomore in linguistics, son of Chris and Joan Kennedy; Shawnee Mission East High School.
From Overland Park 66224
Erum Shah, senior in political science, daughter of Pir and Saieda Shah; Blue Valley Northwest High School.
LABETTE COUNTY
From Parsons 67357 and Joplin, Mo.
Shaun Dwyer, freshman preparing to study law, son of Jackie Dwyer of Parsons and Steve Thompson of Joplin, Mo.; Parsons Senior High School.
RILEY COUNTY
From Manhattan 66502
Nate Johnson, senior in philosophy, political science and psychology, son of Ron and Betty Johnson; Manhattan High School.
From Manhattan 66503 and Lawrence
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.
From Wichita 67208 and 67218
Dylan Quigley, junior in philosophy, son of Tim Quigley (67218) and Trix Niemberger (67208); Wichita High School East.
From Wichita 67218
Kai Davis, freshman in political science, son of John Davis; Wichita High School Southeast.
Mathew Petersen, sophomore in economics, son of Laura Peterson-Miller and Virgil Miller; Wichita High School East.
SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66601
Devon Cantwell, freshman preparing to study business, daughter of Joyce Cantwell; Washburn Rural High School.
From Topeka 66604 and 66610
Mark Wilkins, freshman in political science, son of Brent Wilkins (66610) and Janis Hinkle (66604); Washburn Rural High School.
MISSOURI
From Blue Springs 64015 and Lee’s Summit 64081
Alyssa Kennedy, freshman in philosophy, daughter of Jerry Kennedy of Blue Springs and Rita Jackson of Lee’s Summit; Lee’s Summit Senior High School.
From Joplin 64804 and Parsons, Kan.
Shaun Dwyer. See LABETTE COUNTY
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