The University of Michigan Debate program has won the 38th annual American Debate Association National Championship.
The three-day tournament, held March 8-10 in Houston, featured nearly 200 competitors from 25 institutions.
In the tournament’s final round, students from LSA — Eleanor Barrett, a freshman from Austin, Texas, and Jiyoon Park, a junior from Topeka, Kansas — defeated Northwestern University on a 3-0 decision.
Earlier in the elimination rounds, they also defeated teams from Emory University, the University of Kentucky and Liberty University en route to the tournament victory.
For two other U-M teams, Avinash Shah and Conner Shih reached the Sweet Sixteen, and Rebecca Davidov and Ben Saudek reached the elimination round of 32.
U-M’s Debate Team began in 1903 and is one of the oldest debate programs in the United States. The team will conclude the 2024-25 season at the 79th annual National Debate Tournament in Spokane, Washington, April 3-7, where U-M is also the defending champion.
