News release
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Contact: Christina Chapple
Date: 4/11/05
 
Debate TeamClick on image for publication quality photo 
DEBATER EARNS NATIONAL HONORS – Southeastern Louisiana University Debate Team member Zack Wagner of Houston was named one of the country’s best speakers at the National Novice and Junior Varsity Debate Tournament in Washington, D.C. He and his debate partner from the University of Oklahoma also were ranked second in the nation. Pictured with Wagner are, from left, Debate Team assistant Terri Miller-Drufner of the Department of Communication faculty, Director Eric Marlow, team member Arielle Lemoine of Slidell; Wagner, and Communication Department Head Karen Fontenot.
SOUTHEASTERN DEBATER SETS RECORDS
        HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana University Debate Team was ranked second in the nation and a Southeastern student was named one of the country’s best speakers at the National Novice and Junior Varsity Debate Tournament in Washington, D.C.
       In head to head competition with debaters from much larger universities including Cornell, Wake Forest, Case Western Reserve, the United States Military and Naval academies, New York, Vermont, and Oklahoma, Southeastern debater Zack Wagner, a junior from Houston, Texas, majoring in speech communication, emerged as one of the best in the country.
        “Zack’s award for speaking was truly amazing,” said Eric Marlow, the director of the Southeastern debate program.  “It was a true testament to his talent and versatility as a competitor.”
       “We are very proud of both Zack and Eric,” said Karen Fontenot, head of the Department of Communication. “They have worked very hard and now their hard work is paying off.”
       Debating as a hybrid team with Bryan Pittman from the University of Oklahoma, Wagner was able to achieve the best finish in school history. Posting victories over teams from Bard College, University of Pittsburgh, Kansas State University, Mary Washington University, and the U.S. Military Academy, Wagner and Pittman amassed a preliminary record of five wins and two losses.  After the preliminaries the team was seeded fifth in the country for the single-elimination bracket, and earned a bye into the sweet sixteen round.
       After defeating teams from the University of Pittsburgh, Mary Washington University and Southwest Missouri State University, Wagner and Pittman loss the final round to perennial debate powerhouse the University of Vermont in what Marlow described as “a hard fought battle.” 
       “The team received the honor of being the second best team in the country,” Marlow said. “This performance marked the highest finish in the history of Southeastern debate.”
Based on their performance in the preliminaries, Wagner was honored as the 13th best speaker in the nation. Marlow said this marks the highest speaker award that has ever been earned by a Southeastern debater at a national tournament.  
       “Due to the enormous amount of time teams put in before tournaments, it is rare for any hybrid team to be successful,” Marlow said. “Zack’s award proves what I have known all along, that he is a remarkably gifted debater, and Southeastern is lucky to have him as a representative.”
       “Each day we rode past Arlington National Cemetery on the way to compete, and it really made me think about all of the lives that have been sacrificed so we can live in a society that honors dissent and so actively supports competitive debate,” Marlow said. “I was proud to represent Southeastern and our country; especially, when more soldiers are losing their lives every day to protect our freedom.”
       “Six months ago, no one would have picked us to make it to the elimination rounds at nationals, much less to finish second in the country,” Wagner said. He thanked Southeastern and Communication Department Head Karen Fontenot for their support and attributed his success to Marlow. 
       “He took a chance on me and has been there every step of the way with advice and encouragement.  I could have never done this without him,” Wagner said.
       In addition to the award for debating, Marlow was honored with an award for being a top coach at the national tournament.  
       The tournament marked the end of the season for the debate team, but preparations have already begun for next fall. The team’s awards are on display in the Communication Department office in D Vickers Hall.
       “The continued success of the Debate Team is sure to attract new members,” Fontenot said. She stressed that students do not have to be communication majors to participate. Any interested student should contact Marlow at 985-549-5408 or emarlow@selu.edu.