UWG News Archive

Debate Team Finals

April 23, 2004

CARROLLTON, GA - The University of West Georgia completed a successful season at the National Debate Tournament (NDT) held April 1-5 at Catholic University.

The team of Joseph Koehle, a junior from Pittsburgh, and James Thomas, a junior from Roswell, compiled a preliminary record of 5-3, advancing to the elimination rounds where they lost a split decision to Cal-Berkeley.

Of the 78 teams from across the nation that had to qualify to compete at the NDT, only 28 won enough debates in the preliminary rounds to advance to the elimination rounds. This was the seventh consecutive year West Georgia has advanced at least one team into the elimination rounds at the NDT.

According to Michael Hester, director of debate, this is the longest such streak in West Georgia's lengthy history as a force in intercollegiate debate.

This also marks the eighth time in the nine years that Hester has been UWG’s director of debate that UWG Debate cleared a team to the elimination rounds of the NDT.

During preliminary rounds, UWG defeated teams from University of Richmond, University of Texas, University of Missouri, University of Wyoming, and University of Southern California.

“I’m very proud of James and Joe,” said Hester. “We struggled as a squad at the beginning of the year, and it wasn't until the winter break that James and Joe started debating together. They worked especially hard over the past month to make sure UWG's success at national championships would continue. We believe our strong finish to this season, with elimination round appearances at both CEDA Nationals and the NDT, will give us a lot of momentum going into next year.”

Hester also praised the effort of the entire debate squad that, in addition to Koehle and Thomas, includes assistant coach Daniel Davis, and students Eric Cole, Anita Lamar, Logan Leslie, Brandon Scott, Tim Sowers, Josh Tandlich, and Kelly Williams.

“We even had the help of past UWG greats at the NDT,” said Hester. “Sarah Holbrook flew into DC from her home in California to help assist in coaching and research duties. It was a total team effort.”

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