MSU debate team garners continued success in virtual fall tournaments

by Sarah Nicholas

     STARKVILLE, Miss.— The Mississippi State University Speech and Debate Council transitioned to an online format for the first time in team history and continues to bring home wins during the Fall 2020 debate season.

     MSU Speech and Debate is led by head coach Cheryl Chambers, an instructor in the Department of Communication, and debate coach William “Brett” Harvey, director of MSU’s Title IX and EEO programs.

     “While there was concern about how virtual tournaments would look, the team has embraced the new format. These students are already comfortable with technology and have not let these new circumstances change their commitment and success,” Chambers said.

     At the Dr. Frank Thompson, Jr. Tournament, hosted by the University of Alabama, the MSU team earned the 3rd place Team Sweepstakes Award. Individual winners, by hometown, include:

ELLISVILLE—William “Luke” Youngblood a sophomore civil engineering major, champion status in Prose Interpretation.

     GULF BREEZE, FL—Matteo R. Mauro, a freshman communication major, third place Persuasive Speaking.

     STARKVILLE—Mia C. Robertson, a junior political science major, second place Persuasive Speaking.

     At the Western Kentucky University Fall Tournament hosted by WKU, individual winners include:

     GULF BREEZE, FL—Matteo R. Mauro, a freshman communication major, fifth place Persuasive Speaking.

     STARKVILLE—Mia C. Robertson, a junior political science major, third place Persuasive Speaking.

     The team also competed in the Virginia is for Lovers Tournament hosted by James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. The individual winner was:

     ELLISVILLE—William “Luke” Youngblood, a sophomore civil engineering major, finalist in Prose Interpretation.

     At the Mendoza Debates hosted by Lee College in Baytown, TX, MSU won the first place Team Award. Individual winners include:

     COLLIERVILLE, TN—Nirmal X Bhatt, a senior mechanical engineering major, third place Speaker Award, varsity division.

     JONESBORO, AR—Baylee M. Seeman, a junior English major, quarterfinalist, novice division.

     JONESBORO, AR—Spryo D. Spanos, a senior aerospace engineering major, fifth place Speaker Award and quarterfinalist, junior varsity division.

     KOSCIUSKO —Mayukh K. Datta, a senior chemical engineering major, second place Speaker Award and semifinalist, novice division.

     PEACHTREE CITY, GA—Amanda G. Kronenberger, a sophomore political science major, fifth place Speaker Award, novice division, and finalist in the same category.

     SAVANNAH, GA—Tyler J. Melvin, a junior history major, semifinalist, varsity division.

     STARKVILLE—Mia C. Robertson, a junior political science major, second place Speaker Award and octofinalist in the varsity division.

     At the Weevil Wars hosted by the University of Arkansas at Monticello, the MSU team earned first place Team Award. Individual winners include:

     COLLIERVILLE, TN—Nirmal K. Bhatt, a senior mechanical engineering major, quarterfinalist, varsity division.

     HAZELHURST—Heather R. Harrison, a sophomore communication major, octofinalist, novice division.

     JONESBORO—Baylee M. Seeman, a junior English major, quarterfinalist, novice division.

     KOSCIUSKO —Mayukh K. Datta, a senior chemical engineering major, octofinalist, novice division.

     MADISON—Anne Elizabeth Harrington, a senior political science major, quarterfinalist, novice division.

     SAVANNAH, GA—Tyler J. Melvin, a junior history major, semifinalist, varsity division.

     STARKVILLE—Mia C. Robertson, a junior political science major, finalist, varsity division.

     In the 2020 Steve Hunt Classic hosted by Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR, and Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA, winners included:

     BALDWYN—Dawn M. Jackson, a senior business economics major, first place Persuasive Speaking, senior division.

     CANTON, GA—Patrick T. McKenzie, a freshman business economics major, octofinalist, junior varsity division.

     COFFEEVILLE—Collin R. Staten, a freshman mechanical engineer major, first place Speaker award and double octofinalist, novice division.

     COLLIERVILLE, TN—Nirmal K. Bhatt, a senior mechanical engineering major, tenth place Speaker Award varsity division.

     GULF BREEZE, FL—Matteo R. Mauro, a freshman communication major, first place Persuasive Speaking, novice division.

     HAZELHURST—Heather R. Harrison, a sophomore communication major, octofinalist, novice division.

     JONESBORO, AR—Baylee M. Seeman, a junior English major, octofinalist, novice division.

     JONESBORO, AR—Spryo D. Spanos, a senior aerospace engineering major, double octofinalist, varsity IPDA division.

     KOSCIUSKO —Mayukh K. Datta, a senior chemical engineering major, sixth place Speaker Award, novice division.

     MADISON—Anne Elizabeth Harrington, a senior political science major, semifinalist, novice division.

     PEACHTREE CITY, GA—Amanda G. Kronenberger, a sophomore political science major, octofinalist, novice divison.

     SAVANNAH, GA—Tyler J. Melvin, a junior history major, octofinalist, varsity division.

     STARKVILLE—Mia C. Robertson, a junior political science major, quarterfinalist, varsity division and eighth place Speaker Award.

     For more information about MSU’s Speech and Debate Council, visit www.comm.msstate.edu/students/speech-debate or contact Chambers at cchambers@comm.msstate.edu.

     MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences includes more than 5,200 students, 325 full-time faculty members, nine doctoral programs, 14 master’s programs, and 27 undergraduate academic majors offered in 14 departments. It also is home to the most diverse units for research and scholarly activities, including natural and physical sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and the humanities. Complete details about the College of Arts and Sciences may be found at www.cas.msstate.edu. MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.