The Sterling College Debate and Forensics Team has added quite a few trophies to their display case. Having participated in the Ocho Debate Tournament, the Missouri Mule, and the Sunflower Swing, the team has taken first place in overall team sweepstakes and has earned over a dozen individual and team awards.

“We have been very busy during the past month, and our team is still going strong. I am proud of the work they continue to put toward preparation for each event and their ability to support one another along the way. We look forward to a week of rest as we get ready to travel to Tulsa and debate additional high caliber teams from across the nation,” said Ken Troyer, director of debate and forensics.

The Ocho took place at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. On the first day, sophomore Gage Brookman of Hutchinson, Kansas, was awarded sixth place overall speaker and advanced to the octa-finals in Lincoln Douglas Debate. He finished the tournament placing third for overall speaker.

At the Missouri Mule Tournament at the University of Central Missouri, the team took 1st place in overall team sweeps, defeating the reigning national champions, Western Kentucky, along with 28 other schools, such as the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Missouri, Texas State University, Illinois State University, and Washburn University. Brookman, Cody Campbell, Amanda Del Toro, Bryce Harner, Sarah Julian, Darren Kootz-Eades, Wesley Lowrey and Zach McElfresh all contributed points toward the award. Brookman and sophomore Harner of Hutchinson, Kansas, to place second in varsity parliamentary debate. Brookman tied for third place in Lincoln-Douglas debate and was awarded sixth overall speaker.

Freshmen McElfresh of Kechi, Kansas, and Del Toro of Manhattan, Kansas, finished second in novice parliamentary debate. Del Toro was also awarded sixth place speaker in both novice parliamentary debate and novice Lincoln Douglas debate.

In their most recent showing at the Sunflower Swing co-hosted by Sterling College and Bethel College, two forensics students made their way to final rounds. In extemporaneous speaking, Campbell of Buckeye, Arizona, placed sixth. Julian of Sterling, Kansas, finished sixth in informative speaking.

Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kansas, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit www.sterling.edu.