This past weekend, the University of Miami Debate Team competed at the Sunshine State Showdown Fall Debate Scrimmage at the University of Central Florida. Adding another successful performance, the team debated against the four other universities in Florida who compete in intercollegiate policy debate.
Courtney Kloepper and Virgil Capote were 4-0 against the University of Florida and captured the title of Championship of the Junior Varsity Division, bringing home a Knight and winning the Junior Varsity State Championship. Capote was fourth individual speaker and Kloepper brought home fifth place. Liam Allen-McGoran and Kyle Kingma were 3-1 and the fourth place team in the Novice division, with speaker awards going to Thalia Garcia, Allen-McGoran, and Jimmy Kardys. In all, 12 UM debaters competed.
This win is partly due to the outstanding coaching from Patrick Waldinger, Oliver Brass, Randall Martinez, and Leandra Lopez. In three tournaments this year, 21 UM students have competed in intercollegiate debate securing two tournament wins.
The team travels next to the University of Mary Washington in Virginia and the University of Toronto in Ontario, Canada.
