Third Place Finishes at Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament!

ISU Debate Team at Pi Kappa Delta Natinals

The Idaho State University Rupp Debate Team recently brought home a pair of third place wins from the Pi Kappa Delta National Comprehensive Tournament in Nashville, TN, March 13-18, 2018.

Bengal Debaters were named 3rd Place Overall in Division II Sweepstakes . The national tournament hosts 82 competitor colleges and universities from 26 states and three countries.

Idaho State also claimed 3rd Place in the Division I Debate Sweepstakes with a tie between two of its own teams.  Bengal speakers closed out the Public Forum Debate semifinals when sophomore Jack Bradley and freshman Kaden Marchetti tied for third with ISU’s other freshman duo of Connor Coutts and Alex Vail. 

Marchetti was additionally honored as fifth speaker overall in the Public Forum debate competition, an accolade presented for high quality execution and presentation in argumentative public speaking.

The Overall Sweepstakes award determined by combining the total accumulated speaker points in both debate and individual events in the competition.  Schools require participation in both competitive speaking forms in order to qualify for the sweepstakes honors.

Nick Grunig

Squad President Nick Grunig said “This is a great way to end our traveling season! It shows what the team can do when we really focus on achieving our goals and put in a little extra effort.”

  

Kaden Marchetti & Jack Bradley

“Our team functions incredibly well as a competitive unit.  Everyone has remarkable skills, but not everyone generally finds their way into the final rounds in stiff competition,” said Andy Christensen, the team’s Assistant Coach.  “Still, the collective contributions of each member on the squad earned us a national accolade. It’s a well-deserved tribute to the efforts of the group who operate as a team first, and as individuals second.”

The Bengals had entries in collegiate NFA-Lincoln Douglas, International Public Debate (IPDA), and Public Forum debate styles.  The Public Forum topic argued at the tournament was “In the United States, changing the process of presidential election to popular vote is justified to preserve democracy.”  In the IPDA format, debaters have a new topic for each round and 30 minutes to prepare their cases.

In addition to debate, the speakers participated in individual event contests including Impromptu speaking, Extemporaneous speaking, After Dinner speaking, and Slam Poetry.  

Conner Coutts & Alex Vail

The team’s Head Coach is Dr. Sarah Partlow-Lefevre.  “This makes me very proud of the entire team.  They have worked hard this year and it’s a fantastic way to end the travel season. There’s nothing like the energy and experience at a National tournament.”