While students on campus attended the Neal Conference, swing dancing, and toga party this weekend, Covenant’s Debate Society sent ten students to Western Kentucky University to compete in one of the biggest tournaments of the season. They collected five top awards as well as a heavy dose of enthusiasm to show for it.
“I’m addicted. It was a fantastic experience, especially for my first try,” said sophomore Sam Bestvater, a history major who competed in his first ever debate round this weekend.
“I’m addicted. It was a fantastic experience, especially for my first try,” said sophomore Sam Bestvater, a history major who competed in his first ever debate round this weekend.
For six of the ten, this was a first experience in competitive forensics (the official term for the art of formal argumentation.) Nerves ran high as evidence cards, legal pads, and speaking drills were swapped around.
“A lot of my friends debated both in high school and at Covenant. Debate kids like to talk about debate, and it sounded like a lot of fun, so I thought I’d give it a try,” said Bestvater.
“A lot of my friends debated both in high school and at Covenant. Debate kids like to talk about debate, and it sounded like a lot of fun, so I thought I’d give it a try,” said Bestvater.
At the tournament, he did more than try. Bestvater and his debate partner, sophomore Sarah Swygard, made it to the semi-final round in the novice debate track.
From its beginning three years ago, Covenant’s Debate Society has made a habit of showing up unknown at tournaments and making a startling splash across the awards ceremony.
Last March, the debate team quietly left campus for Nationals, the highest level of competition in the National Christian College Forensics Association (NCCFA) and proceeded to not-so-quietly explode on the national scene of college level forensics, taking a number of major awards including first in our division.
The competition this weekend included Christian Colleges with well-developed debate programs like Patrick Henry College, Bryan College, Belmont College, and Seattle Pacific University.
According to senior Zach Robbins, “This was definitely the event that put Covenant on the national forensics map.”
The team’s combined efforts secured Covenant a fourth place rank overall out of fourteen schools
Transfer junior Tony Glosson and junior Waverly McMahan also broke into quarterfinals in the novice track and both Glosson and Bestvater placed in the top ten novice speakers.
Transfer junior Tony Glosson and junior Waverly McMahan also broke into quarterfinals in the novice track and both Glosson and Bestvater placed in the top ten novice speakers.
Reflecting on the tournament, McMahan commented, “Even when you don’t win the round, you still are left with the satisfaction of knowing that you had the guts to stand up in front of a group of strangers and talk about a subject that 20 minutes ago you knew nothing about.”
Sophomore Susanna Griffith, a seasoned debater, agreed that debate is more than just the competition: “Debate connects the dots in education for me.”
When not on the road, the club has weekly meetings to practice. There, they discuss current events and topics of interest, how to debate, how to give a speech, etc. “We have way too much fun,” said sophomore Grace Mullaney, who heads up the club with Robbins and Griffith.
When asked who the debate team wants to join their team, Griffith said, “Anyone who enjoys politics, economics or history, wants to overcome a fear of public speaking, or just likes the idea of going on road trips with Tim Mahla and some Covenant students.” Mahla, Assistant Director of Young Alumni, travels with the team as its official chaperone.
“It is a lot of fun,” said Bestvater, “but that’s not the only reason I’m doing it. It builds fantastic communication skills and fosters a unique awareness of current events. I also get to wear a suit.”
[Originally published here.]
