UTSA debate team takes division first place at UMKC season opener

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UTSA debaters Diana Elizondo (left) and Blaire Warren practice for season opener

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(Sept. 22, 2014) -- The UTSA debate team traveled a week ago to Kansas City, Mo., to compete at the first national tournament of the season. Ten students participated in the tournament, accompanied by assistant coaches Philip DiPiazza and newly hired Kristiana Baez, a former debater from the University of Oklahoma.

UTSA finished with an overall winning record, claiming victories in 21 total debate rounds. Sophomores Diana Elizondo and Blaire Warren were tournament champions in the Junior Division. Karmenly Alegria (freshman) was ranked fifth among the top individual speakers in her division, and Bianca Salazar (freshman) was ranked eighth. Alegria and Salazar also reached the quarter-finals round of the tournament, placing in the top eight.

The tournament consisted of 136 teams representing 38 universities around the country including Stanford, UC Berkeley, New York University, University of Kansas, University of Oklahoma and UTSA.

The topics for this academic year are the legalization of marijuana, online gambling, physician-assisted suicide, prostitution and the sale of human organs in the United States.

Last year, UTSA Debate was ranked 25th in the nation and second in the region.

The Roadrunners' next tournament will be next week at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.

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