Debate Team Wins Big in First Tournament
October 3, 2024
Debate Team Wins Big in First Tournament
The Walters State Debate Team excelled at its first tournament of the semester, winning
the First Place Sweepstakes Award in their category at the Seventh Annual Tennessee
Valley Invitational Speech and Debate Tournament. The tournament was hosted by Pellissippi
State Community College.
“Debate started fast this semester, with our first tournament being only in Week 3,”
said Belle Elliott, instructor of speech and debate at Walters State. “We came out
of the gate swinging. Taking a small squad of returning members, we were able to not
only represent our team well, but also strengthen connections with other schools and
teams.”
The team of Chris Cox and Caden Keltgen, both from Morristown, took second place for
open parliamentary debate. Lorna Baxley of Morristown took fourth place and Keltgen
took fifth place, both in the varsity speaker category.
Other team members include Lauren Barton of Morristown, Tatum Ailey of Sneedville,
Joseph Parrott of Morristown, and Hunter Dolan of Morristown. New members have since
joined the team and will compete at the next debate.
Walter State will be hosting its annual Great Smoky Mountains Debate Tournament on
Oct. 5 at the college’s Morristown Campus.