Published on October 20, 2010  

Senior political science major Logan Gramzinski and junior journalism mass communication major Dan Bagwell competed in the Owen L. Coon National Invitational Tournament October 2 – 4. With 288 debaters and 144 debate teams from across the nation, only the strongest competitors are allowed to participate in the tournament. After beating the top 25 teams from Northwestern University, Gonzaga University, and the University of Idaho, Bagwell and Gramzinski won the double-octafinal round with a 3-0 decision from all three judges. As a result, Gramzinski was ranked the 14th best speaker out of the total 288 debaters.

Shortly following the tournament, Gramzinski and Bagwell were named the 17th best debate team in the nation, and Samford was ranked the 13th best debate school by the National Coaches’ Poll on October 9. Debate coach Abi Williams said, "This is the best finish Samford has had at the Northwestern Tournament in over 20 years."

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.