Debaters Successful in First Tourney

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   The speech and debate team at the University of Arkansas at Monticello brought home 16 team and individual awards from the season’s first competition, the R.J. Ricker Debate Tournament held Oct. 28-30 at the University of Louisiana-Monroe.

   Three of UAM’s four two-person debate teams advanced past the preliminary rounds with UAM earning third place in the overall team debate competition. The team of Brian Rauls, a sophomore from Bearden, and Brooke Flemister, a sophomore from Monticello, placed second in varsity debate. Rauls was recognized as the third best individual speaker in the competition.

   In novice debate, the team of Monticello sophomore J.B. Duncan and Whitney Romans, a sophomore from Crossett, placed second, just ahead of the UAM team of Ashley Brock, a first-year student from Fountain Hill, and Lauren Raynor, a sophomore from Burlison, Tenn. Romans was named the top individual speaker in novice debate competition with Brock second and Duncan fifth.

   In the varsity division’s individual debate competition, UAM was represented by sophomore Joel Brown and senior Matt Baumgarten, both from Monticello. Brown was named the fifth place speaker in individual varsity debate. In the novice division, Brock and Raynor each reached the quarterfinals and Duncan made it to the semifinals. As a team, UAM finished third in individual debate.

   “I thought the team did remarkably well,” said Scott Kuttenkuler, director of forensics. “In fact, this is the single most impressive debate tournament we’ve had since I’ve been with the university. We competed against programs that were nearly twice our size, but because of the quality of the performances offered by every single member of the team, we were able to keep right with them. Romans, Duncan, Raynor and Brock, all novices, each had tremendous tournaments.”

     UAM’s next competition will be Nov.11-13 at Louisiana State University-Shreveport.

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