Hillsdale’s debate team won first place overall sweepstakes at the first tournament of the season this weekend.
Nine freshmen and two upperclassmen traveled to Western Kentucky University to compete in Lincoln-Douglas policy debate against competitors from Wiley College, Central Michigan University, and other colleges. Sophomore Henrey Deese broke into octa-finals in the open division, freshman Erin Reichard broke to quarter-finals in the novice division, freshmen Carl Miller and T.J. Wilson broke into semi-finals, and Reichard won fifth best novice speaker.
The topic for the National Forensics Association this year is about ways the government can reduce police misconduct. The Hillsdale team argued the government should reform civil asset forfeiture to protect the property rights of Americans, according to Miller.
Deese said opponents argued anything from making body-mounted cameras on police mandatory to having the federal government abolish all police.
Matthew Doggett, the debate team’s coach, said he feels good about the team’s strong start.
“Right now we are really inexperienced,” Doggett said. “In two weeks, we brought them in with no experience, showed them what debate was, and everybody did really well.”
This tournament was the first time Miller had ever competed in debate. With two weeks of practice, he won five of his six rounds and made it to the semi-finals.
Freshman Jadon Buzzard went 3-3 in the open division of the tournament, and freshman Caleb Lambrecht went 4-2 in the novice division without making it to the elimination rounds.
The debate team also sent one member to the Michigan Intercollegiate Speech League workshop and novice tournament at Oakland Community College this past weekend. Freshman Patrick Mitchell won first place Impromptu speaker. It was Mitchell’s first time competing in the event.
“I felt it really prepared me for the season ahead,” Mitchell said.
Doggett said he feels excited for the team dynamic.
“On the drive down, everybody was pretty quiet,” Doggett said. “I don’t know when it happened…but there were times on the ride back where I was like ‘You guys need to keep it down; you’re a little too loud.’”
When asked what made this competition the most worthwhile, Miller did not miss a beat:
“The team.”