Three members of the Lafayette Debate Team, Zoe Staum ‘14, Justin Horn ‘15, and Ryan Monahan ’15, travelled to Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky. this past weekend for the first tournament of the year. Western Kentucky University is the reigning national champion in NFA-LD Debate.

Zoe and Ryan competed in the invitation-only Alumni Round Robin tournament on Friday. The Round Robin pitted 8 of the best returning debaters in the country against each other, separated into two pods of four debaters. After three preliminary rounds, both teammates advanced as the second best debater in their respective pods. Zoe and Ryan both won their semifinal round and this guaranteed an all-Lafayette final round in the first invitation-only round robin held since 2006. The final round was an exhibition in front of an audience of competitors, coaches and judges.

The following day, all three members of the team competed in the two-day Western Kentucky Fall Fiesta. Zoe, Justin and Ryan competed in preliminary rounds on Saturday. On Sunday morning, the elimination rounds began with quarterfinals. Ryan advanced through to the semifinals on a 3-0 decision against a debater from Marshall University. In the semifinals, Ryan defeated a debater from Hillsdale College, also on a 3-0 decision, securing a spot in the final round of the tournament against Western Kentucky debater Emma Collins. Ryan won the final round on a 3-0 decision, capping a successful weekend with a second championship.
The debate team will now prepare for their next tournament to be held at Lafayette on October 5th-6th.

The Lafayette College Debate Team travels to and competes in regional and national competitions over the course of the academic year. The team debates with a year-long topic. This year the topic is, Resolved: that the United States Federal Government should substantially reform elementary and/or secondary education in the United States.

Full Results:
Zoe Staum – 2nd Place in the Alumni Round Robin and 2nd Place Speaker in the Alumni Round Robin
Ryan Monahan – 1st Place in the Alumni Round Robin, 3rd Place Speaker in the Alumni Round Robin, 1st Place in the Western Kentucky Fiesta, and 4th Place Speaker at the Western Kentucky Fiesta