KU Debate has strong showing in first major tournament of 2021-22 season


University of Kansas Debate Team, 2021-22.

LAWRENCE — KU Debate began the 2021-22 season with a strong start as four University of Kansas teams qualified for the elimination rounds at a 100-plus team virtual tournament hosted by Northwestern University.

Two KU teams finished among the top eight teams at the Fall 2021 Northwestern Season Opener, which was Sept. 17-20, and four Jayhawks received top-10 speaker awards.

Graham Revare and Azja Butler, University of Kansas Debate Team members.The team of senior Azja Butler, Lansing, and sophomore Graham Revare, Shawnee, were undefeated in the preliminary rounds as they notched victories over teams from Northwestern University, the University of Central Oklahoma, the University of Kentucky, the University of Texas, the University of Michigan and Georgetown University. They advanced to the elimination rounds as the top seed. They had a bye through the first elimination round and defeated Liberty University in the round of 32 and Samford University in the final 16 before losing their first round of the year on a 2-1 split decision in the quarterfinals to a team from Northwestern that would go on to win the tournament. Butler was the second-place individual debater at the tournament, and Revare was the eighth-place individual speaker. 

University of Kansas Debate Team members Mickey McMahon and Michael Scott.The team of juniors Mickey McMahon, Leawood, and Michael Scott, Glenview, Illinois, went 5-1 in the preliminary rounds with wins over two different teams from the University of Minnesota, the University of Texas, Georgetown University and Wake Forest University. Their only loss in the preliminary rounds was to the Northwestern team that went on to win the tournament. They advanced to the elimination rounds as the seventh seed. They received a bye through the first elimination round and defeated Emory University in the round of 32 and the University of Kentucky in the final 16 before dropping a 2-1 split decision to a team from the University of Michigan that would go on to finish in second place at the tournament. McMahon won the ninth-place individual speaker award and Scott the 10th-place individual award. 

University of Kansas Debate Team members Zaki Mansoor and Will Soper.The team of sophomores Zaki Mansoor and Will Soper, both of Overland Park, went 4-2 in the preliminary rounds to qualify for the elimination rounds. They beat teams from the University of Iowa, the University of Michigan and two teams from the University of Minnesota while losing to teams from Michigan and Kentucky. They defeated a team from Emory in the first elimination round before losing in the round of 32. 

The team of senior Ryan Snow, Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and freshman Jared Spiers, Pittsburg, qualified for the elimination rounds with a 3-3 record in the preliminary rounds but lost in the first elimination round. Two other KU duos — juniors Jimin Park, Topeka, and Jet Semrick, Prairie Village, and the freshman team of Ethan Harris and Jacob Wilkus, both of Lawrence — also went 3-3 at the tournament but missed qualifying for the single-elimination bracket on points.

“It was an excellent beginning to the season for the University of Kansas debate team, and we have a wave of tournaments coming,” said Scott Harris, David B. Pittaway Director of Debate. “We have a large and talented team, and we are excited about the possibilities ahead this year.”

Photos, from top: The 2021-22 KU Debate team; Azja Butler, Lansing, and Graham Revare, Shawnee; Mickey McMahon, Leawood, and Michael Scott, Glenview, Illinois; and Zaki Mansoor and Will Soper, both of Overland Park. Credit: Scott Harris, KU Debate.

Tue, 09/28/2021

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Scott Harris

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Scott Harris

KU Debate and Department of Communication Studies

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