The Belmont Abbey Debate Team returned this weekend after competing at St. Anselm College. The team competed in both IPDA and Lincoln Douglas, earning a team sweepstakes award in each format and winning the IPDA division.
In Lincoln Douglas, the team took second place overall in competition with Lafayette College (first place), Capital University, Penn State University, Ithaca College, and St. Anselm College. Senior Adrianna Hodges competed in the varsity division, setting a course for our team to enter the technical format. In novice, senior Bryanna Farmer earned honors as the second place speaker. Freshman Paloma Shrauder won 75% of her preliminary rounds at her second debate tournament, placing as a semi-finalist.
In IPDA, the team took fourth place overall in competition that expanded to include Queens College, Cape Cod Community College, and Dutchess Community College. Sophomore Blake Traylor won 75% of his preliminary rounds to advance into elimination rounds. In quarterfinals, Blake won on a 3-0 decision in a round against Ithaca College. He also earned all three ballots in a semifinal round with St. Anselm College, debating presidential age limits. Finally, he concluded the tournament in a round with Queens College about military funding to Israel. Blake won all three final ballots, and Belmont Abbey won the tournament.
Our next and final trip for the semester will take place November 22-25 at Bowling Green State University in the IPDA format.
