The University of Central Arkansas’s forensics team recently completed a successful semester of International Public Debate Association competition.
The team, coached by Anthony McMullen, had high finishes in several events in the 2014-15 IPDA season in the IPDA National Championship Tournament in Boise, Idaho.
The UCA team earned 2nd Place in the Scholastic Cup, which covers points accumulated in the novice, varsity and team divisions of IPDA, and 3rd Place Overall, which covers all divisions of IPDA at the National Championship, including the team championship hosted by UCA two weeks ago. This is out of thirty-two teams from colleges and universities across the country.
For the season, in addition to the team division awards from two weeks ago, UCA’s novice division was ranked fifth in the nation for the season out of 91 teams, and freshman Leia Smith from Cabot, Arkansas was recognized as the top novice speaker for the entire season.
Other awards include:
Stephanie Gray (Professional Division), 7th Speaker at National Tournament, 5th Speaker for the Season
Rickie Mangrum (Professional Division), 10th Place Season Sweepstakes
Brad Allgood (Varsity Division), Triple Octafinalist
Danielle Casey (Varsity Division), Double Octafinalist
Braxton Johnson (Varsity Division), Triple Octafinalist
Mark Matlock (Novice Division), Octafinalist
Brady Shiers (Novice Division), Double Octafinalist, 4th Place Season Sweepstakes
Leia Smith (Novice Division), Double Octafinalist, 7th Speaker at National Tournament, Top Speaker for the Season