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The Sam Houston State University Speech and Debate team is closing in on season-long national rankings after their tournament in Shreveport, La. this weekend.
In team debate, the SHSU squad is currently ranked at the top of the list, both as a school and individual teams.
Coaches Tim and Steve Sears took home the team debate championship at the Eddy T. Shell debate tournament for their second consecutive tournament victory. They defeated the Northwest Arkansas Forensic team of This places the brothers at the top of the season long rankings for team debate with one tournament before the national championship.
Stephen Green and Stacy Hood are four points behind the Sears brothers in the season-long race, putting them in second place after winning a tournament at LSU-Shreveport.
John Villalobos and Richard McKinney made it to the quarterfinal round but wasnt enough to put them into the top 10.
In individual debate, Tim Sears was a semi-finalist in the professional division, which places him at the top of professional season long rankings.
Green advanced to the quarterfinal round in the varsity division as the third seed before hitting coach Steve Sears and losing on a 2-1 decision.
Steve Sears advanced to the semifinal round before losing to Stephen F. Austins Connor Throckmorton. His tournament success places him in third place season long behind LSU-Shreveports Chelsea Anthony and varsity runner-up Kate Ryland.
Hood is currently ranked at the bottom of the top 10 after the last tournament.
In the varsity division, SHSU is ranked third in season long rankings.
The team is compiled of only nine active students, which is relatively small compared to larger teams of more than 30.
The team will compete at the International Public Debate Association national debate tournament at the University of Arkansas at Monticello on Mar. 21-24.
The team will next compete at Stephen F. Austin State University on Mar. 8 in a two-tournament swing.