(Top): From left to right: Junior Varsity top eight finalist Violet Webber, Varsity top sixteen finalist Emma Busby and Novice top eight finalist and number one speaker Caitlin Hurlbut. Courtesy of Scot Loyd. (Bottom): An example of the virtual debate, Scot Loyd vs J.J. Thompson of LSUS with the three-judge panel listening to the debate “Woodward was wrong to place his thumb on the scale.” Professor Loyd representing the negation lost this final round in a 2-1 decision.
Public Relations
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The Oklahoma Baptist University debate team finished in second place in its first ever virtual debate tournament hosted by Lee College in Houston, Texas.
Twenty-one programs participated from across the country including programs from Alaska and California.
The annual Medoza Debates hosted by Lee College opened the International Public Debate Association season, this year the competition was virtual due to concerns over the spread of Covid-19.
The Debate team is grateful to the OBU Business School for use of the Bailey Business Center on Saturday and Sunday.
The competition consisted of six preliminary rounds of individual debate which started at 10:30 am Saturday and concluded at 8:30 pm.
And then elimination rounds on Sunday morning and afternoon concluding at 4 pm.
The Debate Team fielded 13 competitors across four divisions of competitive debate. In the novice category freshman Caitlin Hurlbut was first speaker and finished in the top eight out of twenty-nine individual competitors.
Syndney Collier also received a fourth-place speaker award in the novice category.
In the Junior Varsity division, Junior Violet Webber finished in the top eight out of twenty-seven individual competitors.
In the Varsity division, Junior Emma Busby was fifth speaker finishing in the top sixteen out of forty-eight competitors. She also posted a perfect 6-0 record in preliminary rounds.
Scot Loyd finished as a finalist and fourth speaker out of field of twelve in the professional division.
Collectively the team narrowly missed first place to Mississippi State University but beat out a perennial favorite Louisiana State University Shreveport to take second place in tournament sweepstakes. This is a great start to our season as we pursue a National Championship. Thank you all for your support.
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