Tag: Debate Team

The University of Mary Washington Debate Team qualified two groups of students to compete at the National Debate Tournament that began Thursday, March 29 at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. The tournament, which ran through Monday, April 2, hosted 78 teams this year, all chosen based on a competitive qualification process.  UMW has qualified for the National Debate Tournament 16 times in the tournament’s 66-year history, finishing as high as third in 2010.

Sophomores Patrick McCleary of Shrewsbury, Pa., and Colin McElhinny of Erie, Pa., qualified for the second consecutive year, placing second in the District 7 qualifying tournament, which was hosted by UMW in February.

Senior Peter Susko of Erie, Pa., and sophomore Thomas Pacheco of Baltimore, Md., comprise the second team.  Susko has previously qualified for the tournament and in 2010 reached the semi-finals. The duo finished eighth in the qualifying tournament, securing the district’s final spot for the national tournament.

Results of the tournament are available at  http://bit.ly/NDT2012.

Led by coach Adrienne Brovero, UMW’s debate team racked up a litany of awards at the recent Liberty University debate tournament including the top three speakers in the varsity division. In addition, the two-person tandem of Patrick McCleary and Colin McElhinny reached the finals, placing second after a close debate with Wake Forest University.
The UMW debate team has been in action every weekend since September and will continue through the end of March at the national championships. UMW will host an intercollegiate tournament on campus January 4-6, 2011 that is open for visitors.