Strong Showing at Navy

A week after winning the George Mason tournament, the Mary Washington debate team had another strong showing at the Naval Debate Tournament. The Naval Debate Tournament took place at the United States Naval Academy over the weekend of January 26th, 27th and 28th. The team sent six teams to the tournament, three in varsity, two in novice, and one in junior varsity.

In the novice division, the team of Cassie and Amanda finished the preliminary rounds with a record of five wins and one loss, and received the second and third speaker awards. The second novice team of Farrah and Kacie also did well defeating a team from the University of Florida who are the reigning football and basketball national champions. In the elimination rounds, Cassie and Amanda finished in second place.















In the junior varsity division, the team of Dorrier Coleman and Jason Martin finished undefeated, and received first and second speaker. In the elimination rounds, Jason and Dorrier advanced to the semifinals before losing to Clarion University on a 2-1 decision.















(2nd Speaker, Dorrier Coleman)

In the varsity division, all three teams reached the elimination rounds. The team of Matt Struth and Kevin Kallmyer was 5-1, and Nick Ryan and I were 4-2. Scott Berry and Will Collins began the tournament 3-1 but were unable to debate the final two rounds or their elimination round due to illness. In the elimination rounds, Nick and I reached the quarterfinals after defeating James Madison in the octofinals, losing to the eventual champions from Wake Forest. Matt and Kevin reached the semifinals, defeating both Liberty and Boston College only to lose the same Wake Forest team. Nick received tenth speaker, and Matt received second speaker out of eighty competitors.















(The Former "A Team")















(Matt and Kevin preparing for semis)














(Nick trying to look important)

Mary Washington Wins George Mason Tournament

The Mary Washington debate team won the George Mason College Tournament this past weekend. The George Mason tournament took place over the weekend of January 19th to January 21st, and fielded 23 teams in the varsity division and 11 in the novice division.

In the varsity division, Mary Washington claimed four out of the top five seeds with the teams of Scott Berry and Will Collins, and Matt Struth and Kevin Kallmyer finishing undefeated. In the elimination rounds, Jason Martin and Leslie Ogburn reached the quarterfinals, losing a close round to Georgetown. In the two semifinals debates, Scott and Will defeated Georgetown's top team and advanced to finals. Nick Ryan and I hit the team of Matt and Kevin and closed out the other semifinal debate.

In the novice division, the team of Cassandra Carlton and Amanda Gardner finished 5-1 and reached the semifinals.

Matt Struth and Kevin Kallmyer take Second

Cassie and Amanda are working hard in a practice debate

George Mason HS Tournament Day 2

The George Mason high school tournament ended yesterday with Stone Bridge SH defeating the team of Cathedral Prep RL on a 2-1 decision. The Junior Varsity division was won by Blacksburg High school and the Novice division was won by Wilson high school. The best varsity debater of the tournament based on speaker points was Nitin Kapania from Blacksburg.

George Mason HS Tournament

January 5th and 6th is the annual George Mason High school tournament. For this tournament, several prestigious Mary Washington debaters including Matt and Kevin are judging for various schools throughout the region. I'm judging for my old school, Blacksburg High school.

Here's Matt, getting ready to judge.

















Kevin is explaining something important.

First Semester/Winter Break

The first semester has ended with several notable successes. The first tournament of the year was Georgia State. The three Mary Washington teams that attended the tournament were Matt Struth and Kevin Kallmyer, Nick Ryan and Scott Berry, and the team of Will Collins and I (The Original A Team). The school defeated several highly ranked teams including Northwestern, Harvard, Kansas and Wake Forest. Matt and Kevin finished with a record of 5-3, barely missing on points.















Matt & Kevin After Defeating Kansas BJ

Following Georgia State, Mary Washington attended the University of Richmond tournament. Nick Ryan & Scott Berry won the tournament, and Matt & Kevin made the semifinals.

After Richmond, the team attended the Cap Cities debate tournament at Catholic University. The novice debaters, Cassie Carlton and Amanda Gardner defeated teams from Kings College, Liberty and United States Military Academy to take first place in the novice division.

The last national tournament of the semester for Mary Washington was at Wake Forest University.  This tournament is one of the premier debate tournaments of the year.  Mary Washington sent the teams of Nick & Scott and Matt & Kevin. Matt & Kevin finished with a record of 5-3, and once again, barely missed the elimination rounds.

The last tournament of the semester was at John Carroll University. The team of Nick Ryan & I finished the preliminary rounds undefeated and reached the semifinals in varsity. In the novice division, the teams of Amanda Gardner & Cassie Carlton and Farrah Tek & Sara Kelley reached the elimination rounds. Nick also received 2nd speaker in the varsity division and Amanda took 2nd speaker in the novice division.

















(Sean Jansen, Diligent Worker)