The University of Central Arkansas Debate and Forensics team was recognized as National Champions in Team Division of International Public Debate Association Debate.
UCA Debate and Forensics hosted its annual invitational debate tournament on the UCA campus on March 13-15, and it also served as the National Championship competition for Team IPDA debate.
This is an extemporaneous form of debate. Competitors receive a list of five topics, which is narrowed down to one topic. Competitors then have 30 minutes to prepare a case on the one topic.
The team of sophomore Braxton Johnson (Texarkana, Texas) and junior Danielle Casey (Houston, Ark.) won the final round of competition and was declared Team IPDA National Champions.
Other accomplishments during the tournament for the UCA team are as follows:
- The team of sophomore Mark Matlock (Little Rock, Ark.) and Brad Allgood (Cabot, Ark.) reached the quarterfinals.
- The team of freshman Brynn Woods (Hooks, Texas) and Leia Smith (Cabot, Ark.) participated in the tournament. Smith received an award for third best speaker.
- For the season, UCA placed fourth as a squad. Johnson and Casey were the fifth place team. In addition, Johnson was recognized as the top speaker in Team IPDA for the season.
The overall National Championship will be held at Boise State University in Boise, Idaho on March 27-29.
“It is an honor to coach this team,” said Director of Forensics Anthony McMullen. “We have consistently improved from season to season. Last year, our varsity squad was ranked fourth in the nation. Now, we have a national champion squad, a national champion team and many more accolades at the National Champion in Boise.”
Katherine Bray serves as assistant director of forensics. Other members of the team include senior Sara Sharos, (Bentonville, Ark.), junior Brady Shiers, (Bentonville, Ark.), sophomore Yige “Harry” Wang (China), freshman Michael Ingram (White Hall, Ark.), alumna Stephanie Gray (Russellville, Ark.) and alumnus Rickie Mangrum (Ravenden, Ark.).
For more information, contact McMullen at (501) 852-0695 or amcmullen@uca.edu.
-30-
