Idaho State University debate finishes fall semester with big win

The Idaho State University Debate team finished off the fall semester with another big win. Seniors Matea Ivanovic and Kendra Doty of Boise won the Weber State Mukai College Classic Tournament.

This was the third tournament win and the fourth final round appearance for the Idaho State Debate Team this semester. It was also the second tournament win for the seniors. Additionally, Ivanovic was given the honors of the top individual speaker at the tournament, while Doty was honored as the fourth best speaker.

Ivanovic and Doty continue to show that they are among the best in the nation. Currently, Ivanovic and Doty, with an overall win percentage of 78.4 percent, have the fifth highest win percentage in the nation. In single elimination debates they have a win percentage of 88.9 percent and are the third most winning team in elimination debates in the nation. This puts them above teams from Harvard, George Mason University, Georgetown University, University of Michigan, University of Kansas, Wake Forest University, and California State University at Berkley.

The team as a whole has had an outstanding semester with three tournament wins and several speaker awards. In September, Doty and Ivanovic won the Jesuit Debates at Gonzaga with a 90 percent win percentage. Ivanovic was also named the top speaker at Gonzaga.

In October, the junior varsity debaters had strong showings at both Lewis and Clark College and The University of Puget Sound. Sam Bollinger of Pocatello and Andrew Hoth of Boise took second in the junior varsity division at Lewis and Clark College where there were 250 debate entries from 47 different schools in 13 states. Bollinger was recognized as the top speaker at the tournament, while Hoth was recognized as the third speaker.

Also in October, debaters Brock Sondrup and Jakob Meng of Idaho Falls won the junior varsity division at the University of Puget Sound Logger debate tournament. Sondrup and Meng did not lose a single debate on their way to victory. Also in Tacoma, Meng was recognized as the second best speaker. Sondrup was awarded the third place speaking award.

Other students representing the James M. & Sharon E. Rupp Debate Society this semester included: Mike Eyre of Boise, Anne Johnson of Pocatello, Robyn Hemmert of Soda Springs, Zach Sayles of Rupert, Samantha Richardson and Sasha Ivanovic of Boise.

“I keep thinking the team cannot get any better,” said Sarah Partlow-Lefevre, Director of the James M. & Sharon E. Rupp Debate Society. “But, the debaters always seem to exceed my expectations with one more win or another speaker award. I could not be happier with the effort and dedication put forward by each and every member of the team this past semester.”

“The team had such an impressive first semester,” said assistant coach Roger Copenhaver. “I can’t wait to see the extraordinary things the debaters will do in the spring.”

Currently, the debaters are heading to finals and winter break. But, competition will resume next semester as the team travels to tournaments at the University of North Texas, The University of Utah, Weber State University, Whitman College, The University of Texas at Austin, the District 2 Tournament hosted by Idaho State University, and CEDA Nationals and the National Debate Tournament at The University of Indiana, Bloomington.

For more information about the Rupp Debate Society, contact Sarah T. Partlow-Lefevre at partsara@isu.edu or 208-282-5962.
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