The Sam Houston State debate team traveled with its sister squadthe individual events teamto Baton Rouge, La. last weekend to compete in the Mardi Gras Classic forensics tournament hosted by Louisiana State University. The team won several awards during the competition. The debate team of Jason Courville and Terri Easley won the open division of policy debate. The duo won every debate they participated in over the weekend. They had preliminary round victories over Sacramento State University, Texas Lutheran University, University of Texas-Dallas and Washington University. They won their quarterfinal and semifinal rounds against teams from Washington University on a 3-0 decision. They finished the tournament with a win in the finals round over a University of Texas-Dallas team on a 2-1 decision. Courville and Easley received 14 of 15 possible ballots from their debates. Additionally, Courville was named the second place speaker for the policy division of debate.The 9-0 record accumulated by Courville and Easley brought their record for the season to 32 wins and 19 losses, which is a 63 percent win-loss record. The team is 18-8 on the affirmative this yearjust shy of a 70 percent record with their affirmative case.SHSU debater Lawrence Williams competed in the public division of debate at the tournament. He had a 5-1 record in preliminaries and advanced to elimination rounds. Lawrence won an award for being a quarterfinalist.Sarah Williams, one of Coach Debbi Hattons individual event competitors, finished in third place in prose interpretation. This is the highest she has placed in this event after four sixth place finishes.The tournament was enjoyed by all, and the debaters managed to come home with a few beads from the parade they were able to attend. The win-loss record for the year is overall 51-50, affirmative 30-21 and negative 21-29.The trophies from the tournament are on display in Dan Rather Communications Building room 322J.The debate team is now beginning final preparations for the national tournament. This tournament, hosted by the Cross Examination Debate Association, will be the final competition of the year. The tournament will be held March 24-27 at Middle Tennessee State. Monday March 5, at 5 p.m. in CB room 322J, there will a practice round with Courville and Easley (Aff) vs. Lee Washington and Lawrence Williams (Neg).
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