For the second consecutive tournament, the Sterling College debate team returned home as tournament champions, winning the University of Central Missouri Invitational Tournament. The duo of JD Smith, a senior from Hutchinson, and David Bowers, a sophomore from Hutchinson, ran a gauntlet of competitors that included University of Oklahoma and John Brown University. The duo ended the competition with a 7-1 record, winning the final round on a 3-0 decision. Adding to that impressive performance was the tandem of Daniel Hogan, a junior from Lyons, and Emily Graham, a sophomore from Hutchinson, who advanced to the quarterfinal round of competition, finishing in fifth place overall. Both Smith and Graham were also recognized as being among the tournament’s top six individual speakers. In Lincoln-Douglas debate, David Bowers captured fifth place and was also named sixth speaker overall. In individual events Taylor Libby, a sophomore from Ellinwood, was tournament champion in Impromptu Speaking, while Lauren Rivard, a sophomore from Hutchinson, was tournament champion in Persuasive and Extemporaneous Speaking. Rivard also advanced to the final round of After-Dinner Speaking and Program of Oral Interpretation. Both JD Smith and Emily Graham were in the top six in Extemporaneous Speaking with Graham also placing in Prose.