The University of Nebraska–Lincoln Speech and Debate Team continued their tradition of success ending the year with both speech and debate as national runners up.
The Debate Team placed second in Lincoln Douglas Debate at the National Forensic Association’s National Tournament held at Wayne State University April 17-21.
The team is one of the deepest and youngest in the nation. More than 100 students from around the country competed. This year, the team qualified 19 students for the national tournament, an all-time national record. The top 40 students qualified for elimination rounds, including nine Huskers.
The team was led by Zachary Wallenburg from Lenexa, Kansas and Nevin Butler from Omaha, Nebraska. Wallenburg was named the sixth best speaker at the tournament, advancing to the round of 16, and Butler advanced to the final 8.
The debate team was led to success by Director of Debate, Justin Kirk, and graduate assistant coach Andre Swai.
“This result is the achievement of every member of this squad," Kirk said. "No matter what their experience level, everyone contributed to this success and deserves praise. I am immensely proud of the work we were able to complete this year and look forward to this team's future successes.”
The Cornhuskers are two-time team champions (2022 and 2023) and have won the individual tournament championship twice (2018 and 2023).
“We have the opportunity to work some special students, and we take great pride that we are one of a few universities in the nation to be ranked highly in both speech and debate," Aaron Duncan, Director of Speech and Debate, said. "In 1871 UNL created the Paladin Debate Society as its first student activity and 154 years later we are humbled to have the opportunity to participate and add this legacy.
"Now is a wonderful time to remember the importance of debate, discussion, and dialogue. We owe a great debt to the Department of Communication Studies, the College of Arts and Sciences, alumni, and the Chancellor’s Office for valuing and support this activity.”
The Speech Team finished second at the American Forensic Association’s National Speech Tournament on April 5-7 at the University of North Carolina Charlotte.
The Speech and Debate team is part of UNL’s Department of Communication Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences. The department explores human communication as it shapes and is shaped by relationships, institutions, and societies. Its main areas of expertise are interpersonal and family communication, organizational communication, and rhetoric and public culture.
