MACON — Mercer University’s debate team had a successful debate tournament in November, winning first place and second place speaker and making it to the semifinals at the William Jewell College debate tournament in Liberty, Missouri.
The event was a swing tournament, meaning students competed in two separate tournaments in one weekend, both including five rounds of preliminary debate and four elimination rounds, octofinals through finals.
Jayla Owens, a junior biology major, won first place speaker and semifinalist.
Niyati Patel, a senior honors global development, international affairs and Spanish major, won second place speaker and semifinalist.
Breanna Acevedo, a junior political science major, was an octofinalist.
Red Mason, a sophomore honors psychology major, was an octofinalist.
Pari Bakshi, a freshman honors neuroscience major, was an octofinalist.
Isabel Neely, a freshman honors business student, was an octofinalist.
In total, every student debated 10 rounds across two days of competition, with Mercer’s top team of Owens and Patel competing in 13 rounds, 12 of which they won.
“I am deeply and immensely proud of the students of the Mercer debate team for all they were able to achieve,” said Fiker Tesfaye, associate director of debate. “We not only held our own against schools like Rice University, but we were able to dominate the circuit, particularly our team of Niyati Patel and Jayla Owens. We are excited to really show what a Mercer Bear is made of both at our next tournaments and at nationals in March.”
“Fiker Tesfaye and Adeja Powell continue to pour their heart and soul into Mercer’s debate team,” said Vasile Stănescu, director of debate. “We have a simple philosophy for success at Mercer; hire the best in the nation who, in turn, train the best in the nation. That is what we have done as highlighted by these remarkable victories.”
Other students who competed in the tournament were Mya Kimbrough, a junior international affairs major; Alijah Sullivan a freshman honors engineering student; Shivani Trivedi, a freshman honors student; Bethany Duggan, a freshman honors student; and Kaylee Nichols a freshman honors student.
In addition to Dr. Stănescu and Tesfayer, this year’s coaches are Associate Director of Debate Adeja Powell and alumnus Cam Wade. Powell, a lecturer of communication studies, previously won NPDA Nationals and is the current president of the NPDA. Wade is a former Mercer debater, who recently graduated from the University of Chicago. During his time at Mercer, he won the James ‘Al’ Johnson Top Speaker Award, the top speaking award in the nation.
