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Debate Team finishes in top 10
March 30, 2004
CARROLLTON, GA - The University of West Georgia debate team returned from the Cross Examination Debate Association's National Championship Tournament held at the University of Louisville March 17-23 with its streak intact.
By finishing in ninth place out of 191 teams participating, the team of James Thomas, junior from Roswell, and Joe Koehle, junior from Pittsburgh, made it six years in a row that West Georgia has finished in the top 10 at CEDA Nationals.
Since the streak began in 1999, UWG has finished twice in first place (2000-2001), once in second place (1999), and three times in ninth place (2002-2004).
According to Mike Hester, director of debate, no other school has as many first place finishes during that time, and UWG is one of only three schools to finish in the top 10 every year since 1999 (Michigan State and Emory being the other two).
During the five-day event, UWG defeated teams from Arizona State, Miami (FL), Emory, NYU, Augustana (IL), and Cornell. West Georgia lost a 2-1 decision to the home team from Louisville to end their run.
Koehle was recognized as the 20th place individual speaker out of 382 debaters and Thomas was 21st.
Hester noted that the team will conclude the season at the National Debate Tournament (March 31-April 6), with designs on extending their four-year streak of top 10 finishes at the NDT.
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