Recent Success
2010
Harvard victory and #1 ranking caps off successful month for Northwestern Debate
The Northwestern pair of Matthew Fisher (Sr) and Stephanie Spies (Sr) emerged undefeated from a weekend of competition at Harvard University. The pair were named the 2010 champions late Monday evening after a competitive final round against the University of Oklahoma. The round capped off an amazing weekend of debates for the pair who won 12 debates on their way to the championship. In addition, Matt was named the top speaker at the tournament, with Stephanie following close behind as the 3rd speaker.
The weekend marked one of the most successful outings for the Northwestern Debate Society in recent memory as three teams placed in the quarterfinals and two teams reaching the semifinal round. Three of the top eight teams at the tournament represented the Wildcats. Placing three teams in the late elimination rounds of a national major like Harvard is a rare feat and we are proud of all of our competitors. Ryan Beiermeister (Jr) and Layne Kirshon (Fr) made it to the semifinals of the tournament, losing only two debates over the competition. Mary Gregg (Sr) and Peyton Lee (So) reached the quarterfinals. A great weekend to be a Wildcat.
The Harvard tournament ended a month of successful competition for the Wildcats. Previously, Gregg and Lee advanced to the Final round of the University of Nevada Las Vegas Tournament. Peyton Lee was name the 2nd speaker there and Mary Gregg was recognized as the 4th overall speaker in the tournament.
The strong finishes have resulted in the Wildcats holding the #1 spot in the latest coaches poll. Matt Fisher and Stephanie Spies are ranked the #1 pair in the country. Northwestern is the only team with 3 teams cracking the top 15. Northwestern is the #1 squad in America.
Northwestern Starts 2010 season strong
Northwestern debate started the year off with strong performances before the first class even started on campus. Northwestern teams reached the semifinals of both the Jesuit Invitational at Gonzaga University and the Georgia State University Debate Tournament. The showing at Georgia State was even more impressive as Northwestern had two teams competing in the top four. The senior pairing of Matthew Fisher and Stephanie Spies advanced undefeated in the tournament as the #1 seed to the semifinal round. Stephanie also received the Top Speaker award for the event and Matthew was third speaker. The pairing of Ryan Beiermeister (Jr) and Layne Kirshon (Fr) also made it to the semifinals. At Gonzaga the team of Jrodan Blumenthal (Jr) and Zane Waxman (Fr) advanced to the semifinals before dropping to the eventual tournament champions.
In the first coaches poll of the year both Northwestern squads are ranked in the top 5 in the country. A third team of Mary Gregg (Sr) and Peyton Lee (So) also cracked the top 25. The first time Northwestern has had 3 ranked teams in the history of the coaches poll. The team looks forward to continued success over the course of the year. See a complete listing of the Top 25.
Northwestern to host annual Owen L. Coon tournament
The Northwestern will host over 35 universities and 400 competitors and coaches for the annual Owen L. Coon Invitational help on campus the weekend of October 2nd and 3rd. The largest tournament of its kind, the Owen L Coon attracts the most competitive field of colledge debaters in the country for a weekend of competition on the topic:
"Resolved: the United States Federal Government should substantially increase the number of and/or substantially expand beneficiary eligibility for its visas for one or more of the following: employment-based immigrant visas, nonimmigrant temporary worker visas, family-based visas, human trafficking-based visas."
High school and college debaters are welcome to come and view debates throughout the weekend. A full schedule for the event has been posted. Contact Luke Hill with any questions.
September - November, 2009
Northwestern wins Gonzaga, strong showing at UNI, GSU, and Kentucky
Matt Fisher (Jr) and Stephanie Spies (Jr) were undefeated champions of the Jesuit Invitational at Gonzaga University, and advanced to quarterfinals at Kentucky and Georgia State. Fisher was the 1st place speaker of the Gonzaga and Georgia State tournaments, and finished 5th at Kentucky. Spies was the 10th place speaker at Georgia State.
The Northwestern team of Fisher and Spies ranks 3rd on the National Coaches Poll.
The team of Jordan Blumenthal (So) and Greg Friend (Sr) advanced to the double-octofinals at Kentucky.
At the University of Northern Iowa, the team of Jon Blough (Jr) and Pavan Krishnamurthy (So) advanced to the semifinals. Krishnamurthy was the 7th place speaker.
October: Northwestern closes out 2009 Motor City Classic at Wayne State University. The team of Mary Gregg (Jr) and Peyton Lee (Fr) along with Ryan Beiermeister (So) and Jeffrey Xu (Fr) met in the final round to close out the tournament. Northwestern cleared four teams to elimination rounds before debating to the championship. Ryan Beiermeister was the 2nd speaker while Mary Gregg and Peyton Lee placed in the top 10. This is the second consecutive year Northwestern has won the Motor City Classic.
May 2009
Northwestern Debate wins the 2009 Copeland Award
The pairing of John Warden (Sr) and Matt Fisher (So) were presented the Rex M. Copeland award at the 2009 National Debate Tournament in Austin, TX. The award is presented to the team with the best regular season record who enters the national tournament as the number one seed. Warden and Fisher completed the season with a record of 88-14, won tournaments at Dartmouth, Kentucky and Wake Forest and appeared in the finals at Harvard and Georgia State.
Northwestern finishes year strong at the 63rd National Debate Tournament
Northwestern debate placed two teams in the top 5 at the National Debate Tournament held in Austin, TX. John Warden(Sr) and Matt Fisher(So) advanced to the semifinals of the tournament losing on a close 3-2 decision to the defending champions from Wake Forest University. The team of Rob Mulholand (Sr) and Stephanie Spies (So) advanced to the quarterfinals. Northwestern was the only school with two teams placing in the quarterfinals and beyond. Northwestern was also represented by Greg Friend (Jr) and Mary Gregg (So). Congratulations to the entire squad on a great year and the team expects greater successes in the future.
