Liberty Debate heads into championship stretch on a roll

As college debate’s regular season ends and teams from around the country prepare for the final stretch of championship tournaments, the Liberty University Debate team remains in a heated championship chase.

The Flames ended the regular season with a strong showing at James Madison University (Jan. 27-29) and hope to carry that momentum into their final five tournaments. Seniors Justice Wallenmeyer and Jackson Posey won the varsity division over teams from Cornell, the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, James Madison, Towson, and George Mason. Posey and Wallenmeyer finished the tournament with a perfect 9-0 record across 6 preliminary debates and 3 elimination rounds. Wallenmeyer was named the tournament’s top individual speaker, while Posey joined teammates Melanie Dellinger and Palmer Hamilton in the top-10.

Alyssa Shuttlesworth and James Turner advanced all the way to the final round of the novice division before losing a split decision to George Mason. Shuttlesworth and Turner finished with a 6-3 record, recording wins over the Military Academy, West Virginia, James Madison, and George Mason. Shuttlesworth and Dylan Bridges were named top-10 speakers in the novice division.

The Flames head to Mary Washington this weekend for the District VII qualifying tournament for the National Debate Tournament. Liberty Debate then heads to the Junior Varsity and Novice National Tournament at West Virginia (March 3-5), the American Debate Association National Championship at Georgetown (March 10-12), the National Debate Tournament (March 31-April 3), and the Cross Examination Debate Association National Tournament (April 7-11).

American Debate Association Rankings – Top 10 (as of Feb. 16, 2023)

1. Liberty University
2. George Mason University
3. Emory University
4. Wake Forest University
5. James Madison University
6. University of Houston
7. University of Michigan
8. Indiana University
9. University of Mary Washington
10. Michigan State University

Cross Examination Debate Association Rankings – Top 10 (as of Feb. 16, 2023)

1. Wake Forest University
2. University of Michigan
3. Liberty University
4. George Mason University
5. Emory University
6. Dartmouth College
7. University of Houston
8. Indiana University
9. James Madison University
10. University of Kansas