Walters State Debate Team Starts Season With Success
October 11, 2023
Walters State Has Strong Showing for First Outing
The Walters State Debate Team started the season with a new coach and a
good showing at its first debate of the season, the 18th Annual Smoky Mountains Debate
Tournament held on Walters State’s Morristown Campus.
Returning state champion Chris Cox, a music major from Morristown, earned
top varsity speaker in the field. He and his partner Hannah Stoneman, a general studies
major from Knoxville, advanced to semifinals with a perfect 4-0 record in preliminary
rounds before falling to a team from Middle Tennessee State University. Lorna Baxley,
a journalism major from Morristown, picked up a fifth-place beginning novice speaker
award in her first collegiate tournament.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our new coach, Belle Elliott, and her entire
team,” said Rob Pratt, dean of the Division of Humanities at Walters State. Pratt
served as coach for the previous eight years.
“Ms. Elliott brings strong experience as a former collegiate competitor,
and we believe she’ll continue to build on our rich traditions,” Pratt added.
Elliott, a native of Odessa, Texas, competed at West Texas A&M University
as an undergraduate. She holds a master’s degree from Kansas State University. She
came to Walters State this fall after teaching in Idaho. In addition coaching debate,
she is an instructor of speech communications.
The Debate Team will next compete in Cleveland State Community College’s
Cougar Classic Tournament.
Walters State has an open-door recruiting policy. Any student interested
in debate may attend practice to learn more about opportunities to become a part of
the team. No prior debate experience is necessary. Some scholarships may be available.
For more information, contact Elliott at Belle.Elliott@ws.edu.