Congratulations to University of Michigan debaters Bennett Dombcik and Kelly Phil for winning the 50th annual 2023 University of Kentucky Round Robin. Kelly also won the Top Speaker Award. This is the third year in a row Michigan has won the Round Robin. Go Blue!
University of Michigan debaters Kelly Phil/Bennett Dombcik defeat Emory University KR on a 3-2 decision in the Semifinals of the 2024 National Debate Tournament. They will debate the University of Kansas RS in the final round soon. Go Blue!
The Michigan Debate Team of Rafael Pierry/Kelly Phil tonight won the 2022 University of Kentucky Debate Tournament over Emory GK. They went undefeated at the Kentucky Tournament and Round Robin this week. The team will next compete at Gonzaga University later this month. Go Blue!
Congrats to UM debaters Giorgio Rabbini/Rafael Pierry for winning the Rex Copeland Memorial Award, presented to the team ranked
#1
in the country at the conclusion of the college debate regular season. They will be competing in the 76th annual NDT starting tomorrow. Go Blue!
University of Michigan debaters Kelly Phil and Bennett Dombcik defeat Emory University KR to win the 2023 Harvard University Tournament. This is the first time since 2015 that Michigan has won this tournament. Go Blue!
University of Michigan debaters Rafael Pierry/Giorgio Rabbini win the 2020 Wake Forest University Tournament on a 4-1 decision over Dartmouth. They finished the tournament with a 13-0 record. Michigan last won this tournament in 2015. Go Blue!
Congrats to University of Michigan debaters Kelly Phil/Bennett Dombcik for going undefeated and winning the 2024 Dartmouth College Round Robin. This is the 2nd year in a row UMich went undefeated and won the tournament. Kelly won the Kenneth M. Strange Top Speaker Award. Go Blue!
Congratulations to University of Michigan debaters Kelly Phil and Rafael Pierry for winning the 2023 Herbert L. James Dartmouth College Round Robin. They went undefeated and Rafael was Top Speaker and Kelly 3rd Speaker. Go Blue!
Congratulations to UM Debate Camp alums Danish Khan and Stephen Lowe of Blue Valley Southwest H.S. and Nathan Glancy and Nasim Salehitezangi of Niles West H.S. for reaching the final round of the 2018 NSDA National Championship. Blue Valley Southwest was victorious.
Congrats to the Michigan Debate Team of Joshua Harrington/Azi Hormozdiari. They will be debating in the final round of the 2022 Cross Examination Debate Association National Championship hosted by George Mason University at 9:30 pm ET against Wake Forest University TP. Go Blue!
Congratulations to Jacob Goldschlag/Caitlin Walrath for becoming the 27th University of Michigan debate team to receive a first round at-large bid to the National Debate Tournament. Go Blue!
The Michigan Debate Team of Rafael Pierry and Giorgio Rabbini just defeated Northwestern in the Semifinals of the 2022 University of Texas tournament and are currently Negative in the finals against USC. They went 6-0 in the prelims and are the
#1
seed. Go Blue!
Congratulations to incoming Class of 2023 UM debater Giorgio Rabbini of North Broward Prep (FL) for winning the 2019 Tournament of Champions and Top Speaker award. Incoming debaters KJ Reese of McQueen and Alex Pinheiro of Northside also reached the elimination rounds. Go Blue!
2021 National Debate Tournament Update- Michigan Debate Pierry/Rabbini defeated Kansas in the Final Four/Semifinals on a 3-2 decision. They will debate in the final round next. Go Blue!
University of Michigan debaters Rafael Pierry and Giorgio Rabbini go undefeated and win the 50th annual University of Kentucky Round Robin. Giorgio also wins Top Speaker. Go Blue!
Congrats to UM debaters Kelly Phil/Bennett Dombcik for being ranked the
#2
debate team in the country heading into the 78th National Debate Tournament in Atlanta, GA. UM Debate has been ranked the
#1
or
#2
debate team in the country heading into the NDT the last 4 years in a row.
Congratulations to UM debaters Kelly Phil and Rafael Pierry for winning the Rex Copeland Award, presented to the team ranked
#1
in the country at the conclusion of the college debate regular season. Michigan is the 5th school ever to win the award in back-to-back years. Go Blue!
Michigan Phil/Pierry defeated Emory GK in the Semifinals of the 2023 National Debate Tournament on a 4-1 decision. We will debate Wake Forest RT in the final round soon. Go Blue!
UM debaters Kelly Phil/Bennett Dombcik defeated Michigan State University MG 4-1 in the Doubles tonight. They will debate Georgetown LW tomorrow in the Octafinals of the National Debate Tournament. This is the 11th year in a row we’ve had a team debating on Monday at the NDT.
Congrats to the UM debate teams of Natalie Gao/Conner Shih and Bennett Dombcik/Kelly Phil for receiving 1st round at-large bids to the NDT. These are our 36th and 37th bids. At least 1 team has received a bid in 13 of 14 years. Kelly is the 4th UM debater to receive 4 such bids.
Today marks the final in-person day of the 2023 University of Michigan Debate Institutes!Thanks to everyone who contributed in making this such a great summer and experience in Ann Arbor. We look forward to seeing many of you again at next summer’s camp June 23-August 6. Go Blue!
Bennett/Kelly had the honor this morning of meeting Class of 1971 UM Debate alum Dr. Alexa Canady. She is the nation’s first African American woman to be board-certified in neurosurgery. Dr. Canady will receive an honorary degree at tomorrow’s Spring Commencement at The Big House
Congratulations to Jacob Goldschlag and Caitlin Walrath for winning their first five debates at the 2019 National Debate Tournament. This is the 13th year in a row that at least one UM Debate team has reached the elimination rounds of the NDT. Go Blue!
Michigan debaters Kelly Phil/Bennett Dombcik defeat CSU Long Beach 4-1 in the Quarterfinals of the National Debate Tournament. They next debate Emory University KR in the Semifinals. Go Blue!
Congratulations to UM Debaters Rafael Pierry and Giorgio Rabbini for being ranked the
#2
debate team in the country heading into the 75th annual National Debate Tournament, which starts tomorrow morning. UMich Debate was last ranked
#2
in 2016 and 2015. Go Blue!
Congratulations to UM Debaters Rafael Pierry and Giorgio Rabbini for receiving a first round at-large (top 16) bid to the 2020 National Debate Tournament. This is the 28th such bid for Michigan Debate. Go Blue!
UM Debaters KJ Reese/Thomas Vance reach the Quarterfinals at CEDA Nationals and lose to Texas. The UM Debate season has officially concluded and it's been a great year. Finals/Quarterfinals at the NDT, Finals/ Semifinals at ADA Nationals, and Quarters at CEDA Nationals. Go Blue!
Congratulations to 2022 University of Michigan J.W. Patterson Foundation Fellows Sam Church/Alexandrea Huang of Liberal Arts & Science (TX) for winning the 2023 Tournament of Champions and 2022/2023 UM JWP Fellows Chanden Climaco/Raleigh Maxwell of MBA (TN) for finishing second.
Updated University of Michigan National Debate Tournament Banner- 47 elimination round teams, 31 Speaker Awards, and 27 First Round At-Large Bids. Go Blue!
We were recently interviewed by the local
@wxyzdetroit
TV station about the recent National Debate Tournament victory. It’s available at the below link (starts at 11:00 minute mark)-
Kelly did the interview remotely from debate office because of a final.
Thanks to University of Michigan President Santa Ono and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer for their recent recognition of our 2024 National Debate Tournament victory. We greatly appreciate your time and support. Go Blue!
University of Michigan debaters Rafael Pierry and Giorgio Rabbini preparing with coaches for the final round of the 2019 Wake Forest University Tournament against Berkeley. UM was last in the finals of the Shirley Tournament in 2014 and 2015. Go Blue!
Michigan debaters Kelly Phil/Bennett Dombcik defeat Georgetown University LW on a 4-1 decision in the Octafinals (Sweet 16) of the 2024 National Debate Tournament. Michigan PD will debate California State University at Long Beach in the Quarterfinals. Go Blue!
Congratulations to Ashton Smith/Thomas Vance for reaching the Octafinals of the 2020 ADA Nationals Tournament at UNLV. In addition, senior Ashton Smith was voted ADA Varsity Debater of the Year! Skoulikaris/Pinheiro also reached the Octafinals and Kane/McGraw reached the Doubles
Congrats to UM debate teams Kelly Phil/Rafael Pierry and Josh Harrington/Giorgio Rabbini for receiving 1st round at-large bids to 2023 77th annual National Debate Tournament. Rafael/Giorgio join Ellis Allen as only UM debaters ever to receive 4 1st round bids to the NDT. Go Blue!
Congrats to UM debaters David McDermott/Kelly Skoulikaris for reaching the Semifinals at 2023 American Debate Association Nationals Tournament hosted by Georgetown University. This is the 2nd year in a row Kelly has reached the Semis and 3rd year in a row UM Debate has. Go Blue!
Congratulations to University of Michigan debaters Kelly Phil and Rafael Pierry for winning the 2023 University of Texas tournament on a 3-0 decision over Emory GK. A great end to the regular season before the National Debate Tournament in late March. Go Blue!
The UM debate team of Kelly Phil/Rafael Pierry won the 2022 66th annual Franklin R. Shirley Wake Forest University Tournament on a 2-1 decision over Wake RT.This is the 3rd year in a row Michigan has won the Wake Tournament and 4th year in a row we've been in the finals. Go Blue!
Good luck to the 3 UMich Debate teams currently debating in the Octas at the 2022 Northwestern Tournament: Harrington/Rabbini, Phil/Pierry, and Mikelson/Muse. Hormozdiari/Skoulikaris reached the Doubles. Congrats to Josh Harrington on being the tournament’s top speaker. Go Blue!
2021 UM NDT Update-Michigan Pierry/Rabbini win Octafinals on 4-1 decision and Michigan Phil/Stras win Octafinals on 5-2 decision. The 2 teams close out a Quarterfinals bracket and PR will be advance to Semifinals tomorrow morning. Congrats to Brandon Stras-May graduate. Go Blue!
Michigan Goldschlag/Walrath is currently debating Emory University in the Quarterfinals of the 2019 Northwestern University Tournament. Caitlin was 8th Speaker. Go Blue!
UM debaters Bennett Dombcik/Kelly Phil finished the 2023-2024 college debate regular season by reaching the Semis of the Texas tournament. They won 85% of their debates this year, including the Harvard University Tournament, Dartmouth College Round Robin, and Kentucky Round Robin
University of Michigan Assistant Debate Coach Kevin Hirn delivers the Introduction to the Topic Lecture at the 2024 Michigan Debate Institutes
@umkines
. Go Blue!
Michigan Debate's Rafael Pierry and Giorgio Rabbini are off to a good start in the 2021-2022 college debate season. They are currently undefeated and Affirmative in the final round of the Northwestern Season Opener Tournament debating Northwestern DF. Go Blue!
Congrats to UM Debater Ashton Smith on graduating from
@UMich
today. At 4:00 pm EDT, he is 1 of 2
@fordschool
elected student speakers that you can see at
Ashton was the 2020 American Debate Association Varsity Debater of the Year!
#fordschool20
#MGoGrad
Congrats to Devin/Kevin Lai of Palos Verdes Peninsula H.S. (CA) for winning the 2023 University of Michigan Debate Camp Tournament. They went 6-1 in prelims and won 5 elim rounds, besting nearly 200 other teams from across the country/world. Devin was 6th Speaker and Kevin 13th.
University of Michigan Debaters Rafael Pierry/Giorgio Rabbini will be debating in the final round of the 2021 National Debate Tournament against Dartmouth College Raam Tambe/Tyler Vergho. Go Blue! The link to the livestream is-
Congratulations to UM Debate Camp alum performances at the 2018 Tournament of Champions- all eight Semifinalists and the Top 5 Speakers were all in attendance the last several summers in Ann Arbor, including Rafael Pierry and Dhruv Sudesh of Monta Vista High School (CA). Go Blue!
Congratulations to University of Michigan debaters Jacob Goldschlag and Caitlin Walrath for clearing at the 2018 National Debate Tournament. For 12 years in a row, at least 1 UM team has cleared at the NDT. Go Blue!
Congratulations to UM Debaters Brandon Stras and Kelly Phil. They are currently negative against Cal Berkeley BW in the final round of the 2021 American Debate Association National Championship. Go Blue!
Congratulations to the UM Debate teams of Ashton Smith/Thomas Vance and Josh Harrington/Jesse Love for reaching the Quarterfinals of the Wayne State Tournament before losing on 2-1 decisions. Ashton was Top Speaker, Thomas 4th, and Josh 6th. Go Blue!
Congratulations to University of Michigan debaters Kelly Phil and Rafael Pierry for winning the 2022 University of Kentucky Round Robin. They went undefeated and won the first and third speaker awards. The regular invitational tournament starts on Saturday. Go Blue!
Michigan Phil/Pierry defeats Wake Forest BD in the Quarterfinals of the 2023 National Debate Tournament. They debate Emory University GK in the Semifinals soon. Go Blue!
University of Michigan debaters Emma Gavriliuc and Faith Tabler are currently Negative and debating against Emporia State University in the final round of the 2021 Mary Washington University Tournament. Go Blue!
The UM Debate Teams of Rafael Pierry/Giorgio Rabbini and Jeremy Margolin/Ethan Muse are both currently debating in the Semifinals of the 2021 California State University, Fullerton-Georgetown University Tournament. Go Blue!
UM debate team update- day 4 of 76th annual National Debate Tournament hosted by James Madison: Pierry/Rabbini win semifinals debate on 5-0 decision over Kansas. They will debate Dartmouth College or University of Southern California for the national championship. Go Blue!
Congrats to University of Michigan debate camp alums and former J.W. Patterson Foundation Fellows John Marshall/Serena Rupp of Lawrence Free State High School (KS) for winning the 2022 Tournament of Champions. Our 2022 in-person camps are June 16-July 30-
2023 University of Michigan National Debate Institute Demonstration Debate Night-Cade Blenden/Brandon Reynolds vs. Jake Lee/Matt Conway in Angell Hall Auditorium B!
The University of Michigan Debate Team of Rafael Pierry/Giorgio Rabbini have returned to the final round of the Wake Forest University Tournament for the second consecutive year. They are currently Affirmative against Dartmouth Tambe/Vergho. Go Blue!
Michigan Debate update after the preliminary rounds of the 78th National Debate Tournament in Atlanta, GA. Phil/Dombcik finishes 7-1 with 18/24 ballots and Gao/Shih finishes 5-3 with 13 ballots. Both teams are currently debating in the Double Octafinals. Go Blue!
Michigan debaters Rafael Pierry and Giorgio Rabbini are currently undefeated and in the final round of the 2021 Wake Forest University Tournament Affirmative against Northwestern DF. This is the third year in a row they have been in the final round of this tournament. Go Blue!
Congratulations to
@UMich
Debate alum and 1991 National Debate Tournament finalist
@ColinKahl
for being nominated by President-elect Joe Biden as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Go Blue!
UM Debate celebrated naming of the Charles and Lisa Spies Debate Director’s Office and Debate Team Scholarship Endowment. Charlie graduated from UM in 1995 and EGR H.S. Former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and Chair of the UM Board of Regents Ron Weiser were on hand for the event
@ColinKahl
Such intelligence gathering could also reveal that you were the runner-up at the 1991 collegiate national debate championship while representing the University of Michigan
The Michigan Debate Team arrived in Minneapolis, MN yesterday and is currently in the war room preparing for the 73rd annual National Debate Tournament which begins tomorrow. Go Blue!
Congrats to 2023 J.W. Patterson Foundation Fellow/7 Week Senior Mahi Shah of The University of Chicago Lab Schools (IL) for being the Top Speaker at the 2023 UM Debate Camp Tournament. Mahi bested nearly 400 other h.s. debaters from around the country/world to achieve this honor.
The 2024 University of Michigan Debate Camp concludes today. Thanks for everyone’s hard work and dedication for making it our largest and most successful program to date. Safe travels to everyone returning home and we look forward to seeing many of you again next summer. Go Blue!
The University of Michigan debate teams of Kelly Phil/Kelly Skoulikaris and Jeremy Margolin/Ethan Muse are both currently debating in the Semifinals of the 2022 American Debate Association National Championship hosted by Emory University. Go Blue!
UM Debate Team Update after prelims at 2023 NDT. Phil/Pierry 7-1, 21 ballots and
#1
seed. Harrington/Rabbini 7-1, 20 ballots, and
#2
or
#3
seed (based on speaker points/announced later), and McDermott/Skoulikaris 5-2 and 14 ballots- debating Georgetown LW in the Doubles. Go Blue!
2023 University of Michigan Debate Camp 7 Week Seniors Amy Lloyd/Maggie Howerton of Blue Valley Southwest High School (KS) vs. Leah Goldberg/Katie Carpenter of Glenbrook North High School (IL) doing demo debate tonight in University Sciences Building for Online/Remote Classic Lab
The 23-24 debate season/NDT ended with KU vs. UM in the finals. It’s 5 months later and the personnel has changed. The schools/sides are identical in the 7-0 v. 6-1 debate at the Northwestern season opener.Good luck to Jiyoon/Eleanor and 4 other UMich Debate teams in break rounds
2020 University of Michigan Debate campers in the last two days have received live Zoom lectures from Alec Karakatsanis (founder and Executive Director of Civil Rights Corps) and John Mearsheimer (R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago)
University of Michigan debaters Rafael Pierry and Giorgio Rabbini are currently undefeated and debating in the final round of the 2021 J.W. Patterson University of Kentucky Tournament. Go Blue!
Michigan Debate teams Pierry/Rabbini and Phil/Stras went 5-1 in the prelim rounds at the University of Kentucky Tournament, won their Double Octafinals rounds on 3-0 decisions, and will be debating in the Octafinals on Monday morning. Margolin/Muse advanced to Double Octafinals
University of Michigan debate teams Kelly Phil/Kelly Skoulikaris and Rafael Pierry/Giorgio Rabbini are debating in the Quarterfinals of the 2021 Wake Forest University Tournament. Four Michigan teams reached the Double Octafinals and three reached the Octafinals. Go Blue!
The University of Michigan preseason debate work week is underway on campus this week. We look forward to starting the 2024-2025 debate season at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL next month. Go Blue!
1997 Rex Copeland Memorial Award Winner and former University of Michigan/Glenbrook North High School debater Scott Hessell visited the office this week while on a campus tour with his daughter. Go Blue!
Congrats to UM Debate Camp alums Aden Barton and Sam Meacham (Montgomery Bell Academy, TN) and Jeremy Margolin and Henry Mitchell (Whitney Young H.S., IL) for reaching the final round of the 2020 Tournament of Champions. You can watch the debate live here-
Michigan Goldschalg/Walrath wins their Doubles/Round of 32 debate at the National Debate Tournament on a 5-0 decision and will be debating in the Octafinals/Sweet Sixteen tomorrow. Go Blue!
After a warm welcome from the Dean of Students Office and Department of Public Safety, University of Michigan Assistant Debate Coach Kevin Hirn delivered the Introduction to the Topic Lecture at the 2023 Debate Camp!