The Samford University debate team of Sarah Emerson and Moriah Windus has earned an invitation to attend the 2019 National Debate Tournament at the University of Minnesota March 21-26. “Qualifying for the National Debate Tournament is the highest honor a team can achieve,” said assistant debate director Lee Quinn.
The Emerson/Windus team has had an outstanding season already, coming in second place at three different tournaments, and besting the highest levels of national competition. Debate director Ryan Galloway said he is especially proud that Emerson is a freshman and Windus is a junior. “It has been a long time since we have had a freshman qualify for the National Debate Tournament,” Galloway said. “The fact that we get the duo back for another year speaks highly of our program.”
Only 78 teams compete at the National Debate Tournament. The Samford team will compete against the best squads in the nation, including Harvard University, Dartmouth University, Georgetown University and the University of California-Berkeley.