Published on October 26, 2021 by Sean Flynt  
Young Debaters
Back (L-R): Grace Scott, Hank Jackson, Ryan Galloway, Abi McKibben. Front (L-R): Grace Blackwell, Libby Hutchinson

Samford University’s freshman and sophomore debaters earned several honors at the University of Mary Washington tournament Oct. 16-17.

The team of Grace Blackwell and Abi McKibben placed second at the tournament, defeating teams from the University of Houston, James Madison University and West Virginia University.  Blackwell was named 5th speaker and McKibben was named 7th speaker. 

The team of Libby Hutchinson and Hank Jackson advanced to the sweet 16 of the tournament, defeating teams from West Virginia University, the University of Rochester and Emory University. Jackson was named 13th speaker.

The team of Abby Montgomery and Grace Scott defeated teams from the University of Houston and West Virginia University.

Samford’s debate team has risen to 7th in the national rankings of the Cross-Examination Debate Association. “The tournament shows that we have a strong foundation for success,” said director of debate Ryan Galloway. “With our young teams doing so well, Samford debate should have a bright future ahead.”

Samford debaters will next compete at Wayne State University before closing out the fall season at Wake Forest University.

 
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.