Debate Team Continues Winning Streak
March 6, 2023
From left are Chris Cox of Morristown; Debate Coach Robert E. Pratt II, dean of the
Division of Humanities; and Cayden Keltgen.
One week after winning the state championship, a pair of Walters State Debate Team
brought home another first place finish at the Fifth Annual Tennessee Valley Invitational
Tournament at Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville. It’s the third time
in five years Walters State has captured a championship at this tournament.
Chris Cox of Morristown and Cayden Keltgen of Talbott earned the varsity championship
with a final round victory over a pair from the host school. The Walters State pair
also received awards for the speaking skills they displayed during their five rounds
of competition. Keltgen earned third speaker in the varsity division while Cox finished
fourth.
“Chris and Cayden are as strong at mentoring others as they are at competing,” Robert
E. Pratt, II, said. In addition to coaching the debate team at the college, Pratt
also serves as dean of the Division of Humanities and associate professor of communication.
“We’re equally proud of the eight other debaters who made the trip to compete this
week, including two who were in their first ever college tournament.”
The team finished second overall in debate sweepstakes, an award that measures overall
success of all the team’s debaters. The team’s next competition will come in April
at Northeast State Community College.
In the photo: The Walters State Debate Team captured first place at the Fifth Annual
Tennessee Valley Invitational Tournament at Pellissippi State. From left are Chris
Cox of Morristown; Debate Coach Robert E. Pratt II, dean of the Division of Humanities;
and Cayden Keltgen.