Going into the new semester of tournaments, the Hillsdale Debate Team anticipated a week of lesser success after a month vacation from debate and the incongruity of the tournament with their usual expectations.
At the Butler Bulldog Battle in Indianapolis, Ind., Hillsdale received the third place overall, two speaker awards, and respectable success in other areas of the tournament.
“We actually did really well this weekend in a tournament that we had a history of just doing ‘OK’ at,” junior Ian Hanchett said. “For the first time there, every team we entered made it through the ‘out’ rounds, and for the first time everyone also survived at least one elimination round.”
Along with the team’s success in receiving the third overall team, senior Bryan Brooks received fifth place overall speaker, and freshman Emily Runge received the fourth overall speaker, her first speaker award in five years of debate between college and high school.
“It is notable we did as well as we have had a month – or in my case since last April – off and we expected to be knocking the rust off,” Hanchett said, “but we are doing really well which is good looking to next weekend, as we have a big national tournament coming up.”
Freshmen Bri Hearn and Kevin Ambrose, juniors Ian Hanchett and Lauren Holt all finished in the quarterfinals of their respective tournaments.
“As a freshman, it is great to excel with my partner, especially in events I have have not competed in before, and to be in a supportive environment to learn and succeed,” Ambrose said.
The team is optimistic going into their next tournament, the Gorlack Gala, hosted by Webster University in St. Louis, Mo. on Jan. 26.