ELKINS – The Davis & Elkins College Debate Society achieved major victories at the Holiday Frolic Speech and Debate Tournament, winning The Ohio State University tournament and placing second overall at The Ohio State University – Otterbein University Tournament swing.
The two events, co-hosted by The Ohio State University and Otterbein University, took place in Columbus, Ohio, and Westerville, Ohio. For the first place Small School Sweepstakes win, which was based on the quality of entries rather than institutional size, the D&E team came out ahead of Eastern Michigan University, The Ohio State University and Ball State University, among others. To earn second place overall, the D&E team finished ahead of The Ohio State University, Central Michigan University, Bowling Green State University and Marshall University, as well as eight other colleges and universities representing four states, competing in individual events and debate.
Forensics tournaments host a number of events simultaneously. A squad is awarded points for wins, advancement to elimination rounds and for individual speakers. The total points a squad earns determines the sweepstakes awards.
The overall accomplishment began with D&E debaters closing out the Final Four, or semifinal round, of the debate portion at The Ohio State University. Crowned co-champions were D&E Debate Society President Thaddeaus Breckenridge of Beckley; Griselle Rosado of Davenport, Florida; Lorenz Schnitzner of East Aurora, New York; and David Magda of Hilliard, Ohio.
Competing against students from California University of Pennsylvania and The Ohio State University, Breckenridge went 4-0 in preliminary rounds and earned the top speaker award at the tournament. Rosado, Schnitzner and Magda each amassed a 3-1 record.
D&E team members Cordell Bostic of White Sulphur Springs; Rebekah Brown of Roanoke, Virginia; and Isaac Cleavenger of Philippi earned 2-2 records, and Victoria Goss of Stafford, Virginia, went 1-3. Bostic also earned recognition as the second-place overall debate speaker at the tournament.
In the International Public Debate Association (IPDA) debate division at the Otterbein campus, the D&E team squared off against debaters from California University of Pennsylvania, Oakton Community College and perennial debate powerhouse Saint Anselm College. Breckenridge, Bostic, Rosado and Goss all went 3-1 through preliminary rounds. On the strength of quality points, Breckenridge, Bostic and Goss advanced to the tournament’s Final Four.
In the semi-final debate on the proposition “Election Day should be a national holiday,” Breckenridge faced the No. 1 seed from Saint Anselm, losing on a 2-1 decision. On the strength of quality points, Bostic advanced over Goss. He faced Saint Anselm in finals on the question of government budgets and spending, but lost on a close 2-1 decision to finish in second place at the tournament.
Goss and Bostic were recognized as the fourth and third ranked speakers in IPDA debate.
Non-advancing members of the squad also contributed to the overall success of the team. Schitzner earned recognition as the sixth-place speaker in IPDA debate and Magda as the tournament’s fifth-place speaker. Brown, again, went 2-2, losing close decisions to California University of Pennsylvania and Saint Anselm. Cleavenger finished 0-4.
The spring tournament schedule for the D&E Debate Society is pending.
