University debate team wins in Idaho
After not having a team in more than 20 years, the Utah State University debate team had three university teams place first, second and third at a tournament held Saturday in Twin Falls, Idaho.
In addition to the team’s overall performance, Tom Grover took first place in the Extemporaneous Speaking category and Adam Fulton placed first in the Impromptu category, according to a press release.
Eight schools attended the tournament, held in Twin Falls, Idaho, which is a small number for a debate tournament, Grover said, but some of the schools included regional powerhouses Boise State University and Carroll College.
In addition to this tournament, earlier this year the debate team placed third in a tournament held in Spokane, Wash., which featured 30 other schools, Tom Worthen, the, team’s volunteer coach, said.
“Our success comes directly from Dr. Tom [Worthen],” Grover said, “he’s amazing.”
In 1983, while attending USU and obtaining his bachelor’s degree, Worthen was a member of the debate team and forfeited his last year of eligibility to coach the team before the program was discontinued. In Spring 2004, Worthen volunteered to serve as a coach for the debate team.
Worthen said he has been involved in debate for more than 20 years, including actively competing in high school and college, and coaching at other colleges and universities. He said he has had past students who are currently coaching at the college level.
His goal is to have USU rank in the top 30 or 40 programs in the nation this year, Worthen said, and believes that USU could become a national powerhouse within the next couple years.
“Easy,” Worthen said, “I can do it.”
With national recognition for the debate team, Worthen said, it will bring prestige to the university and will be a valuable recruiting tool.
As with football and other sports, competing in a conference is important in national recognition, Worthen said, and with the associations and acquaintances he has with coaches from other schools, USU was able to become a member of the Northwest Forensic Conference.
Despite some of the USU team members having little or no experience in debate, Grover said, under the guidance of Worthen, they have been able to compete with and beat other schools with students attending school on debate scholarships.
In addition to scholarships, most schools have full-time coaches, Worthen said. Boise State, for example, has three full-time coaches on salary and a $44,000 budget.
Worthen said USU administrators told him if he raised $5,000 for the team, the university would match that amount.
The amount was raised, Worthen said, and is waiting for the university to provide the money as promised.
Grover, who competed in debate in high school, said he first gained interest in competing at USU when he saw a flier and attended a meeting. He said he feels other students could also benefit from participating in debate.
One of the biggest benefits a student can gain from participating in debate, Grover said, is learning fluent communication skills, which will be beneficial in any career.
Worthen said he admires the team because they are smart, hardworking, good students who compete because they enjoy doing it and they represent the whole student body very well.
The debate team will participate in a tournament held at Southern Utah University on Oct. 2-3, which will feature 15 schools including Air Force, the University of Utah, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, Eastern New Mexico University and others.
-cmoffitt@cc.usu.edu