LSUS debate team wins at Mississippi College | Arts & Culture

The LSU Shreveport Debate Team, in competition at the annual Mississippi College “Deep South” debate tournament this past weekend, entered 13 competitors, advanced 8 to the elimination rounds held on Saturday and won all three divisions of debate and the tournament. 

The team gets a break for the holidays but immediately returns to action when it hosts the Southern Forensic Championships at the LSU Shreveport campus from January 25 - 27.

Director of Debate, Trey Gibson stated, “I am so proud of how this team worked hard and came from that far behind to win this tournament.  We do not give up!” 

Gibson also gave great credit to those team members who researched and provided evidence and arguments for those still in the tournament.  “Without that foundation of support, this come from behind victory never would have happened.”

Entering the elimination rounds the Shreveport team was at a major disadvantage.  Union University, their top rival, had a 15 point lead and had advanced twice the number of debaters to the elimination rounds.  As the elimination rounds progressed, the LSU Shreveport team faced Union 12 times and won 10 of them. 

As the elimination rounds progressed, the LSU Shreveport team faced Union 12 times and won 10 of them.  The decisive victory came in the final round of the novice division.  Psychology major Chaz Coleman faced Union’s Anna Goodman with the topic, “The national debt is the greatest threat to our democracy.” 

Coleman was negative and won on a 3-0 decision.   

In the varsity division, LSU Shreveport advanced 3 individuals to the elimination rounds.  Psychology major and Team President Chelsea Anthony advanced to the elimination rounds on a strong 5-1 record.  She faced Harding University’s Daniel Hunter in the final round and won on a 3-0 decision.  Also in the varsity division, Public Relations major Julie Thomas was named top speaker.

In the professional division, LSU Shreveport’s Director of Debate Trey Gibson and its Team Captain Colby Walker marched through the elimination field and met in the finals, winning the division and giving Shreveport the “trifecta” in the tournament.

For more information, please contact the Director of Debate, Trey Gibson at trey.gibson@lsus.edu or (318) 797-5081.