LC Sparkles at National Debate Tournament
April 4th, 2007The ten member Louisiana College Debate Squad returned from the 10th Annual IPDA National Debate Tournament and Convention with a total of 15 awards, surpassing their record breaking 13 in 2006.
The national conclave was hosted by Louisiana State University in Shreveport March 30 through April 1. Allison Steed, a Pearl River sophomore, highlighted the squad’s competition with a 3rd Place finish in the Varsity Division of the tournament. She came out of the preliminary rounds with a 5-3 record and 15th seed. In the Octofinal round she took the decision over the University of Arkansas-Monticello’s Chris Haley, the Number 2 seed, to advance to the quarterfinal round which produced a win over Ron Cardwell of the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville.
In the semi-final round she lost a 2-1 decision to Dan Eldridge of Stephen F. Austin State University who won the tournament in the next round.
A total of five of the LC speakers gained the eliminations. Sulphur senior Haylie Treas was the 7th seed for the out rounds but was eliminated by Cardwell on a split decision. Jeffery Boydstun, a Dry Prong sophomore, was the 11th seed and was eliminated by Eldridge while Harrisonburg sophomore Ethan Boothe’s win-loss record was good enough to advanced but his 201 out of 240 speaker points was four points shy of qualifying.
All four of the Varsity competitors had 5-3 records while Alexandria senior Datha Bustard was one win shy of advancing with a 4-4 record.
In the Novice Division, Spencer Brown, an Alexandria junior, was the 2nd seed with a 7-1 record by lost a 2-1 decision to John Cruce of UAM and Chris Lee, a Shreveport sophomore, also went to the octofinals with a 5-2 record only to be eliminated by Edwin Estrada of Tulsa Community College.
Freshmen Rachael Melancon of Lafayette and Carla Ramey of Nagadoches, TX, were 3-5 and Blake Gardner of New Boston, TX was 2-6.
Treas was the 3rd Place speaker in Varsity while Boydstun was 15th. Speaker awards in Novice went to Lee with a 3rd Place award and Brown with a 6th place trophy.
Louisiana College took Fourth Place Sweepstakes for their efforts.
Season long records were recognized at the convention. Bustard received the trophy for 6th Speaker and Boothe was 10th in the Varsity Division. LC was 4th Place in the Varsity Division for the year just two places down from their 2006 showing.
In the Novice Division, Brown was the 3rd Place competitor.
It was also announced at the tournament that a new award was being created in honor of the retiring LC Director of Forensics Bennett Strange. The new Bennett Strange Award will be given annually to the Outstanding Louisiana Debate Coach.