SHREVEPORT -- LSUS Debate coach A.J. Edwards always talks about the surrounding support as a cornerstone for a program that’s considered among the best in the nation in its style of debate.
That support will be on full display whenever LSUS hosts its Red River Classic Fall Debate Tournament on campus this weekend.
More than 20 teams, including schools like Mississippi State, Southern Methodist, Arkansas and Dallas Baptist, will bring around 300 competitors to campus for the three-day event beginning Friday.
While debaters from host schools generally don’t compete in their own tournaments – they are usually working behind the scenes as organizers – putting on bonafide tournaments that draw top schools helps raise the profile of the host program.
“They sacrifice the ability to compete to host other teams and help put on a good tournament for others,” Edwards said. “Hosting is a monumental task.
“The Red River Classic is historically one of the year’s three of four largest tournaments, and that’s mainly because teams know we will have a really good tournament. That’s a credit to the previous coaches here at LSUS.”
Hosting a quality tournament goes far beyond debate members themselves.
Edwards said the entire campus buys in.
“This tournament isn’t possible without everyone at LSUS,” Edwards said. “The custodial staff, facility services, deans, chairs, and security all go above and beyond to help us put everything together.
“The folks at events management and in the University Center are amazing. The entire campus is the real reason the tournament is a success year-in and year-out, and we’re beyond fortunate to have the kind of support we have here at LSUS.”
Even though LSUS debaters won’t step into the ring this weekend, the Debate team has made its mark so far this season.
In its last two tournaments, LSUS has claimed second place in the overall sweepstakes at Central Missouri and Arkansas.
At Central Missouri, CJ Longino claimed the varsity individual title and first-place tournament speaker. Addison Jacobsena dn Micah Robinson finished as the junior varsity co-champions.
Cameron Thoele reached the varsity semifinals.
Edwards took first-place speaker in the professional division and reached the semifinals, while Ephraim Mensah placed second.
In team debate, Jordan Guillot and Emily Dowd finished second with Jacobsen/Robinson and Longino/Thoele reaching the semis in their divisions.
At Arkansas, Ethan Arbuckle claimed the professional division title and was named fifth-place speaker.
Longino reached the varsity semifinals and was second-place speaker, while Thoele claimed first-place speaker as a quarterfinalist.
Jacobsen was a junior varsity semifinals, fourth-place speaker and third as a team debate speaker.
Most recently, a small contingent of LSUS debaters headed west to the Point Loma Nazarene Tournament of Champions.
The team of Longino and Thoele finished second overall in team debate with Thoele claiming fifth-place tournament speaker honors.
