DePauw debate team captures national championship

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Two members of the DePauw University debate team -- sophomore Ronnie Kennedy and junior Jimmy Kirkpatrick -- won the national championship at the Pi Kappa Delta National Comprehensive Tournament, which took place March 17-18 in Overland Park, Kan.

Pi Kappa Delta is largest forensics honorary societies in the United States and more than 65 colleges and universities took part in the national championship tournament.

Kennedy and Kirkpatrick compiled a 5-1 record in preliminary rounds to advance to elimination rounds. They defeated Northern Illinois University in the quarterfinal round on a 3-0 decision, then bested Webster University of St. Louis in a 3-0 decision in the semifinals, setting up a final round showdown with Boise State University.

The final round resolution was: "Eliminate the World Bank." DePauw governed on the resolution, and Boise State opposed. The DePauw debaters prevailed in the final round on a 2-1 decision to win the national title.

Kirkpatrick was among three DePauw debaters who took home individual honors, finishing eighth. Sophomores Sam Leist and Shelby Beasley claimed fourth and seventh places, respectively, in the junior division.

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