Multiple KU teams perform well at Harvard debate tournament

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Debate squad flashed its depth at the prestigious Harvard College Debate Tournament from Oct. 28 to 31, with multiple KU teams finishing in the top 10 at the tournament. Sophomores John Marshall, Lawrence, with Jiyoon Park, Topeka, finished in fifth place. Seniors Graham Revare, Shawnee, with Will Soper, Bucyrus, and freshmen Brooklynn Hato, Overland Park, with AJ Persinger, Lawrence, tied for ninth place.

KU had five teams qualify for the 90-team field competing at the tournament, and all five teams had winning records and finished in the top 32. Schools competing at the tournament included Baylor University, Binghamton University, the University of California-Berkeley, California State University-Fullerton, California State University-Long Beach, Cornell College, Dartmouth College, Emory University, George Mason University, Georgetown University, the University of Georgia, Gonzaga University, Harvard University, the University of Houston, the University of Iowa, James Madison University, the University of Kentucky, Liberty University, Macalaster College, the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Minnesota University, New York University, Northwestern University, the University of Rochester, Samford University, the University of Southern California, the University of Texas, the University of Texas at Dallas, Trinity University, Wake Forest University, the University of Wyoming and Wichita State University. KU was the only school to have three teams qualify for the single-elimination rounds.

The team of Marshall and Park won six of eight debates over two days of preliminary rounds and qualified for the top-16 team single-elimination round bracket as the sixth seed. They defeated a team from Wake Forest in the octafinals before losing to a second Wake Forest team on a 2-1 split decision in the quarterfinals. Marshall was the 10th place individual speaker, and Park was the 17th speaker.

The team of Revare and Soper won seven of eight debates in the preliminary rounds and advanced to the elimination rounds as the fifth seed. They lost to Harvard University on a 2-1 split decision in the octafinals. Revare was the 13th speaker, and Soper was the 18th speaker.

The team of Hato and Persinger won six of eight debates in the preliminary rounds and advanced to the elimination rounds as the 14th seed. They lost a 2-1 split decision to Binghamton University in the octafinals.

The teams of junior Jacob Wilkus, Lawrence, with freshman Owen Williams, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and juniors Ethan Harris, Lawrence, with Jared Spiers, Pittsburg, each won five debates in the preliminary rounds and just missed qualifying for the single-elimination bracket.

 “We are incredibly proud of the performance of the entire squad this weekend,” said Brett Bricker, associate director of KU Debate. “The coaching staff and debaters put on a phenomenal performance. The depth of talent in the program is amazing.”

Photo: KU debaters participating in the Harvard tournament from Oct. 28 to 31. Front row: William Soper, John Marshall, Brooklynn Hato, AJ Persinger and Ethan Harris. Back row: Graham Revare, Jacob Wilkus, Owen Williams, Jiyoon Park and Jared Spiers.