Two Â鶹¹û¶³ teams are headed to the National Debate Tournament--the "big dance" of college debate--and their coach is the recipient of a top regional award.
Â鶹¹û¶³ debaters Nick Agnello, Clark Bowers, Erin Ramsey and John Wilkerson qualified for national competition after placing among the top eight teams at a district tournament held at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Ga., March 4-5.
Teammates Agnello and Bowers finished the regional tournament ranked fourth of the 40 two-person teams in competition. Bowers was ranked fourth best debater out of the 80 individual competitors.
The Â鶹¹û¶³ duo of Ramsey and Wilkerson were ranked seventh best team at the tournament.
Â鶹¹û¶³ debate coach Ben Coulter was voted "critic of the year" by student debaters from the southeast central region. The honor is based on his fairness and performance as a judge during tournaments throughout the year.
The national tournament will be at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., March 23-28. The natio's top 78 two-person teams will continue debating this year's national debate topic, U.S. foreign policy with China.
Agnello is a sophomore political science major from Snellville, Ga.
Bowers is a junior political science major from Sylacauga.
Ramsey is a freshman political science major from Peachtree City, Ga.
Wilkerson is a junior history major from Macon, Ga.
This is the second consecutive year that two Â鶹¹û¶³ teams have advanced to the national competition.