Washburn University Debate Brings Home Top Honors from Marshall/Ohio State

Topeka, Kan. - The Washburn University debate team earned Top Squad at its fourth and final tournament of the fall semester for the 2025-26 season, the "Marshall/Ohio State Swing Memorial PKD75," an online tournament hosted by Marshall/Ohio State Nov. 15-16. This is the team's second consecutive tournament win this season. Additional tournament results: - Alfonso Rascon, junior, was named Tournament Champion in the Open Division.- Ziona Jackson, sophomore, Madelin O'Leary-Worsley, sophomore, Grady Smith, freshman, and Grace Springer, freshman, advanced through to the quarterfinals in the Junior Varsity Division.- Springer also earned fifth overall speaker in the Open Division.- Sophie Grover, sophomore, was runner up/second place in the Junior Varsity Division.- Chrisangel Adame, sophomore, and Daisy Laron, junior, advanced through to the quarterfinals in the Junior Varsity Division.- Adame also earned fourth overall speaker in the Junior Varsity Division.- Zach Buffington, freshman, was named Champion in the Novice Division. Also representing Washburn were Wendo Kimori, junior, and Jenna Massey, freshman. Washburn alumni judges and coaches included Andrew Rea (current graduate student in Washburn's master's in communication and leadership program, ('25), Matt Parnell ('18) and Emily Unruh ('21). Shanna Carlson ('10) served as tabulation director for the tournament and is the director of debate at Illinois State University. Other universities competing included Florida State University, Illinois State University, Kansas City Kansas Community College, Louisiana State University, Marshall University, Missouri State University, Shepherd University, Texas Tech University, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, University of Missouri, Kansas City, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nevada, Las Vegas and University of Pittsburgh. "This is our last debate tournament of the fall semester. Our students have been preparing on this year's LD [Lincoln-Douglas] topic since July and will continue to research and debate this topic through April 2026, ending with the National Forensic Association's LD Championships held this year at Tennessee State in Nashville," said Kevin O'Leary, director of debate and senior lecturer in communication studies, Washburn University. "When it comes to academic research and argument for undergraduate students, there is simply nothing comparable to intercollegiate debate. Debate changes the lives of our students as it promotes a lifetime of intellectual inquiry and discussion." The Washburn University debate team was the national champion in the 2023-24 season and finished the 2024-25 season ranked third in the nation. O'Leary and Steve Doubledee, assistant director of debate and senior lecturer in communication studies, coach the Washburn debate team. The program focuses on the Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate format, which follows a 6-3-7-3-4-6-3 time schedule. Each debater receives 13 minutes of speaking time, three minutes of question time, and four to five minutes of preparation time between speeches. Each round lasts approximately 45 minutes. -30- Founded in 1865, Washburn University is a public institution with almost 8,000 students in more than 200 academic programs. Washburn's programs lead to certification, associate, bachelor's, master's, doctor of nursing practice, and juris doctor degrees. The programs are offered through six primary academic units: the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Applied Studies, Greg D. and Ronda K. Brenneman School of Business, Harmony J. Hines School of Nursing, School of Law, and Washburn Institute of Technology (Washburn Tech). All programs are offered on Washburn's 160-acre residential campus in the heart of Topeka, Kansas, at Washburn Tech's west-side campus, or in the East Topeka facility. Washburn University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, and many individual programs have additional accreditations. For further information, contact:Joy BailesDirector of Internal Communications and Brand ManagementEmail: [email protected]: 785-670-2153