ESU debate team finishes up season

ESU Debate Team at the National Debate Tournament

Front row: Joelle Jasper, Jia Minn, Kelly Thompson
Second Row: Katie Murphy, Matt Cook, Paul Mose
Back Row: Dustin Rimmey, Coach DeLaughder, TJ Dubin, Coach Woolard
Not pictured: James Taylor, Assistant Coach

Emporia State University continued it's tradition of being one of the best debate programs in the nation by finishing 24th in both the National Debate Tournament (NDT) and Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) rankings for collegiate policy debate.

The team was third in the regional standings which include the states of Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas and Nebraska.  The team also made a great showing at the CEDA National Tournament held in Dallas, TX March 31 - April 5, 2006.

A freshman team of Paul Mose and Joelle Jasper went 5-3 in the preliminary rounds to clear 36th into the elimination rounds before losing to Michigan State.  Dustin Rimmey, senior from Lansing, and Matt Cook, sophomore from Derby, also made the elimination

rounds on a 5-3 preliminary record and were the 42nd seed, before losing to the top team from the University of Kansas.  Over 180 teams attended the tournament from across the nation.

"Joelle and Paul were only one of two all freshman teams to make the elimination rounds, and Dustin and Matt had some great wins against top national teams.  We always wish we could've placed higher, but with our top two teams being so young, this is a great performance,” said Ken DeLaughder, Director of Debate. “Both teams lost to upper-class debaters from top schools.  "Dustin will be coaching for us next year, and it was great to see him end his debating on a positive note."

Also attending the tournament was Anthony Dubin, sophomore from Shawnee,

and Kelly Thompson from Topeka, who were both 4-4 in preliminary competition. 

Katy Murphy, Jr.  from Topeka and Jia Minn, from the People's Republic of China

attended the tournament as scouts.

"Not a team at nationals had a losing record," said James Taylor, Assistant Director

of Debate. “That is an accomplishment with the competition so fierce.  With the

topic being relations with the People's Republic of China, having a citizen of that

country along, was an advantage that helped."

The team has been as high as seventh in the national rankings and as low as 38th this

year.  "We are a young program, with only one graduating senior, and some

freshman that are as good as any debaters in the nation, so our main problem was

being inconsistent in our performance," DeLaughder said. “At the end of the

season, everyone stepped it up and we finished in a great position for the future."

The tournament was DeLaughder's last one as the director of debate for ESU.  He is attending law school next year. 

"The students really wanted to do well to make me proud," DeLaughder said. "I

could not have asked them to work any harder than they did preparing for my last

tournament as coach.  Some tears were shed and I will certainly miss coaching and

teaching.  I am honored to have been part of the tremendous family that we have

here at ESU debate. I want to thank everyone their support, from the administration

and the department, to the students and faculty.   In my heart, I will always be a

Hornet," DeLaughder said.

 

Last Updated July 2, 2007>