September 26, 2016
The East Texas Baptist University Debate Team competed in the Hub City Swing Debate Tournament September 23-24 in Hattiesburg, MS. The team returned home with a fifth place team finish, as well as numerous individual honors.
In the Novice division, Carrie Sparks posted a 4-1 preliminary round record and advanced to octofinals and quarterfinals before falling in the semifinal round. Markevia Holmes, competing in her second debate tournament ever, earned a 3-2 preliminary record, advancing to the elimination round of 16.
In the Junior Varsity Division, Tele'ma Blackman earned a 3-2 record in the opening rounds and advanced through one elimination round before falling in the quarterfinals.
The Professional division saw ETBU competitors advance the greatest amount. Shayne Davis was undefeated in the preliminary rounds and was the top seed in the competition. He advanced to the semifinals before losing. Cole Franklin, ETBU's debate coach, also competed in the Professional division. He held a 4-1 record and second seed position going into the elimination rounds. He defeated his semifinal opponent but lost the final round on a 2-1 judges' decision.
Other ETBU debaters contributing to the team victory were Andrew Franklin, Joshua Moreno, and Charles Quigley.
The team also competed in some individual events competitions at the tournament. Blackman, Davis, and Moreno won 4th, 5th, and 6th place finishes respectively in the finals of the Editorial Impromptu Speaking individual event. Blackman also was the top novice competitor in the event.
"This was a difficult tournament," Franklin said. "There were a number of much larger schools competing at the event. Our students competed against and defeated opponents from schools such as TCU, Mississippi State, and the University of Tennessee. To finish in the top five universities with such difficult competition speaks well for the quality of our students."
The debate team's next competition will be October 28-30 at Tulsa Community College in Tulsa, Oklahoma.