Debate Team Starts Fall Semester With Strong Individual, Team Showings

The Walters State Debate Team includes, seated from left, Rebekah Nicholson of Mohawk; Katelyn Cook of Whitesburg; Shaylee Tomes of Seymour; and standing, Mary Kilgore of Sevier County; Keeghan Ferguson of New Market; Alyssa Jones of Rogersville; and Shannon Erickson of Parrottsville.

Debate Team Hosts Tournament, Individuals Place in Top Ten

The Walters State Debate Team hosted the 20th Annual Smoky Mountain Parliamentary Debate Tournament, bringing two- and four-year college debate teams from throughout East Tennessee to the Morristown Campus. 

The tournament began with the presentation of the Malcolm McAvoy Legacy of Debate Award. The award will honor individuals who have worked to help debate thrive for higher education students in East Tennessee. The first recipient was the award’s namesake. McAvoy is the retired head of the speech department at Walters State and served as the debate coach for many years. 

The home team then made McAvoy proud.

Individual members who won awards were Shaylee Tomes, 7th place novice; Alyssa Jones, 7th place varsity; Shannon Erickson, 5th place varsity; and Cayden Keltgen, 4th place varsity.  

The team finished in second place in the varsity bracket. 

“This was an amazing way to start debate season,” said Coach Belle Elliot, instructor of communication. “This tournament showcased many of the beginner novices in our area. We had a large novice bracket. That’s a signal that debate is healthy in East Tennessee.”