ESU debaters get early start with successful Texas Two-Step
Emporia State University
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Emporia State University’s debate team was traveling to two back-to-back tournaments before most other students had even come back to campus following the winter holiday break. The first of two “swing” tournaments (debater lingo for back-to-back tournaments) began Jan. 5.
“You sort of get used to not having winter or spring breaks as a debater,” said Kurt Fifelski , junior Social Sciences major. “It’s fine with me; I’d rather be competing.”
The ESU debate team of Kurt Fifelski and Chris Loghry (known as Emporia FL) competed at the Texas “swing” with tremendous success, finishing 17th overall at both tournaments. “Both of these tournaments were nationally competitive, even more so than usual,” said Samuel Maurer, director of debate at ESU. “Since our district — the exact same states as the Big 12 — is the most competitive in the country, the Two-Step is usually pretty rough, but this year, there was much more competition from outside of the region.”
“It’s hard enough trying to contend with the powerhouses in our district,” said William Taylor, assistant debate coach, “but when Emory, Wake Forest, and Dartmouth start sending teams, then it just turns into a blood bath.”
Despite tremendous adversity, Emporia FL was able to finish in the 17th overall position at both tournaments, a mark ESU has not attained in the varsity divisions of the “Two-Step” in years.
“There are no divisions in debate, so you compete against everyone,” said Chris Loghry, sophomore communication major. “So when you beat a team from a school like Emory, it just makes you feel good because of the reputation of that university and its debate team.” At both tournaments, Emporia State was undefeated against Emory University.
“When we debate Emory or Dartmouth or Harvard, it would be a lie to say that we don’t do it with a chip on our shoulder,” said Taylor. “It is like we get to say to them ‘ESU isn’t any less capable than your university; yours is just more expensive’ and then prove it with the win.”
Emporia FL also had an upset victory over a district rival from the University of Central Oklahoma, the team of Andy Casey and Avery Henry (UCO CH). At the time, UCO CH was ranked the number-25 team in the country, according to the debate Ratings Percentage Index (RPI).
“The UCO CH win was a sort of marquee victory for Emporia FL so far this season,” said Taylor. “It is the sort of win that turns some heads.”
Although Emporia FL was the only team available to attend the Two-Step, their success serves a compliment for what has already been an outstanding season for the entire squad. So far this year, Emporia State debate has reached elimination debates (e.g. ‘playoffs’) at eight tournaments and received eight speaker awards.
“Beating teams like Emory and UCO CH is fun, but we try not to think of ourselves as underdogs,” said Maurer. “We are not the underdog, they are always the underdog because we work harder than they do.”
ESU debate will be traveling to the Owen L. Coon Invitational at Northwestern University next on Feb. 6.