Debate Team

Aggie team of 4 in front of a USU logo
USU has won the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!

I'm honored to announce that after an intense day of competing against the nation's best Novice College Debate Programs at the CPFL Debate Nationals, USU has won the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!  We defeated some great programs from California and Kentucky, beating every Novice team in the country!  This marks the first time the university has won this novice partner debate championship, joining the handful of other team national championships USU has won over the last 25+ years.  As this was the university's first year of competing, we hope to continue the success as we advance and grow the team in the varsity level next year.  This team championship was won by Giuliette Reese, Gracie Beecher, Liz Baxter, and Esther Keller (pictured left to right).  Thank you for the support throughout this year, and we are excited to see what next year brings! -Gordon Peer

USU Debate has WON the CPFL Novice Fall Championship!

USU Debate has won the CPFL Novice Fall Championship!  Gracie Beecher & Giuliette Reese advanced all the way to the Final Round, and then won a close round against a great Vanderbilt team!  This is the school's First Ever Mid-Year Championship, and we were fortunate enough to compete against great institutions like Rutgers and Kentucky.  Additionally, Bailey Watteyne & Esther Keller took 3rd Overall!  Thank you for the support as we resume the season in February!

Two debate team members each representing they are number one

 

USU aggies showing they are number one
USU Debate is the #1 Ranked Novice CPFL Team in the Country!

We had some great results over the weekend as Gracie Beecher & Giuliette Reese went undefeated in all preliminary rounds.  They advanced to the Novice Championship Round only to face our other team of Bailey Watteyne & Esther Keller!  USU took 1st and 2nd Place, "sweeping" the tournament!  Both teams beat some amazing students from Vanderbilt University and Kentucky, among others.  These results mean that USU Debate is the #1 Ranked Novice CPFL Team in the Country!  Our final tournament before our mid-season break is on Nov. 18; thank you all so much for the support! GO AGGIES!


                                         

 
Overview

The speech and debate team is open to any student interested in practicing their effective communication through the study of current events. The club provides its members with the opportunity to compete in tournaments, gain research skills, and make important connections with like-minded people.

Club Contact

     

Gordon Peer

Gordon Peer

CPFL Debate Coach



gordon.peer@ccsdut.org

                                                                                          

   

Club Activities

Fierce Competitors

Read an article about an award-winning member of the debate team, Bryn Voigt, who won the Singletary Outstanding Debater Award two years in a row, an honor given to the top debater across all of the formats of the competition.

Award-winning Teams

Despite a shift in format, during the 2019-2020 season, the team was named the 2nd place overall Division II program in the Northwest Forensics Conference.

Consistent Records

The USU Speech and Debate team regularly places in top positions during competitions. Recently, the team produced varsity national champions in IPDA debate for two years running, claiming the top spot at PKD nationals in 2018 and the top two places in 2019.

Debate Results

Members of the debate team on USU's campus

Read Story

January 2022 Debate

The Utah State Speech and Debate Team returned from its final conference tournament, the Fred Scheller Memorial, and was named a silver program for their overall performance

October 2015 Debate

Attending the largest comprehensive speech and debate tournament of the year, the Utah State University Speech and Debate Team returned from Lewis and Clark College in Portland Oregon placing first place in debate and 5th in overall sweepstakes.