TTU Speech and Debate Dominates Wyoming Tournament

Written by: Christy Hammett

The Texas Tech Speech and Debate team began its 2007-2008 season with a dominating performance at two parliamentary debate tournaments held Sept. 14-16 at the University of Wyoming.

Director Joe Gantt said he is hopeful for a good season. The team received a fourth-place ranking based upon their performance at the national tournament in March, but Gantt is hopeful that the team will be No.1 in the nation this year.

"I expect the students will be winning tournaments consistently and will be a prime contender for the national championship in March." Gantt said.

Texas Tech’s senior debaters Anthony Putnicki, from El Paso, and Mike Mitchell, from Lamesa debated in the Boot and Spur Round Robin, open only to six elite teams among dozens of applicants. Putnicki and Mitchell won each of their five debates, defeating teams from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Northern Arizona University, Rice University, the University of Oregon and the University of Wyoming. Texas Tech’s undefeated record earned them the championship of the Round Robin, and Mitchell was named as the 2nd best individual speaker at the tournament.

Texas Tech’s teams reach even greater heights with a championship at one of the largest debate tournaments in the nation, the Top of the Rockies Invitational. The team of Putnicki and senior Kristen Owen from Houston won all seven of their preliminary debates and were the only team out of the field of 54 teams from across the nation to do so. They continued their strong performance with five consecutive wins in elimination rounds, earning the tournament championship with a win over a team from Washburn University in the final round. Owen and Putnicki also were honored as two of the top twelve individual speakers out of 108 competitors. The championship was Texas Techs first in a major parliamentary debate tournament since 2003.

Additionally, junior Brett Delaney from Casper, Wyoming, won 2nd place in After-Dinner Speaking, and freshmen Jordan Eicher and Patrick Isenberg from San Antonio finished among the top 10 teams in the junior varsity division.

The Speech and Debate Team will resume its season Sept. 21-23 with a tournament to be held at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo.

CONTACT: Joe Gantt, Director of Forensics, Texas Tech University, (806)742-1328 or joe.gantt@ttu.edu.