The University of Michigan Intercollegiate Debating Team was one of the nation's first intercollegiate forensics teams, founded in 1890. From that time until today the Debating Team has excelled in teaching critical thinking skills and persuasive communication techniques. In the past ten years the U of M Debating Team has been ranked the number one squad in the nation three times, reached the final round of the National Debate Tournament two other times, and won the 1993 NDT Top Speaker Award.

Debate at Michigan is an effective means to the end of academic success. This is proven by the fact that debaters who have graduated from the University of Michigan have consistently gone on to succeed at the nation's most prestigious law and graduate programs at Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Chicago, Columbia, Berkeley, Georgetown, Wisconsin, NYU, Texas, and Michigan.

Coach of Quarterfinalists at the National Debate Tournament and Cross Examination Debate Association National Tournament. Coached teams to outrounds at the National Debate Tournament almost every year since the meger, including four teams to Octafinals or better in six years. Coached over twenty five teams to outrounds at the Cross Examination Debate Association National Tournament. Cocached three teams in six years to a First Round "At Large" bid to the National Debate Tournament. Coached the Top Speaker at the 2001 Dartmouth Round Robin. Josh was the 1990 Cross Examination Debate Association National Champion, Two-time Top Speaker and Champion at the Heart of America Debate Tournament. Previously was the Director and Assistant Director at the University of North Texas, Assistant Director at Arizona State University, Graduate Assistant at the University of Central Oklahoma, and Assistant Director at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Formerly taught at the Dartmouth Debate Institute, Kentucky National Debate Institute, and Arizona Debate Institute. You can reach Josh at jbhoe@umich.edu.

Aaron Kall, BA Communications and Minor in Political Science, University of Kentucky

Coach of the Finalists and Fifth Speaker at the 2002 National Debate Tournament. Coach of two consecutive First-Round At Large Bids to the National Debate Tournament. Coach of the University of Southern California Semifinalists and Georgia State University Finalists. Quarterfinalist at the 2001 Cross Examination Debate Association National Tournament. Formerly coached at the University of Kentucky and worked at the Kentucky National Debate Institute. You can reach Aaron at akall@umich.edu.

Semifinalist at the American Debate Association National Tournament, Winner of the University of Alabama Crimson Classic, and Finalist at the Delta Sigma Rho/Tau Kappa Alpha National Tournament. Whit has coached for the past five years at the high school and college level. In the past, Whit has worked for Mercer University, the University of Alabama, and Piedmont College. You can reach him at whit211@gmail.com.

Adam Farra debated for 4 years at Dexter High School in Dexter, Michigan. Finalist at the 2005 Novice Nationals Tournament. Finalist at the 2005 Miami of Ohio Tournament. This year, Adam has reached the elimination rounds at the University of Southern California, Georgia State, the University of Kentucky, Harvard, Wake Forest, West Georgia, Berkeley, and the University of Texas. You can contact him at adamhfar@umich.edu.

Erika Jerwick debated for 4 years in high school at Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park, Kansas. She is currently a first year student at the University of Michigan and plans to major in political science and history. Feel free to contact her about debate, college, or debate in college at erijer@umich.edu.

Dylan Keenan debated for 3 years in high school at Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park, Kansas. He is currently a sophomore at the University of Michigan and plans to double major in political science and economics. His email address is dylan.keenan@gmail.com.

Daniel Overbeek debated at Grand Rapids Northview High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is currently a freshman at UM. His e-mail address is overbeek@umich.edu.

University of Kentucky- Farra/Keenan were 7-1 and reached the Semifinals. Keenan was Tenth Speaker.

Harvard University- Farra/Keenan went 7-1 and reached the Octafinals. Keenan was the Second Speaker.

Wake Forest University- Farra/Keenan went 7-1 and reached the Octafinals. Keenan was Top Speaker.

Here's just a partial list of the success our team has had in the past:

NDT First Round Bids:

1987 -- Denise Losbough and Jim Speta, 13th bid
1988 -- Mike Green and Andrew Schrank, 3rd bid
1989 -- Andrew Schrank and Joe Thompson, 3rd bid
1989 -- David Brownell and Denise Loshbough, 5th bid
1991 -- Colin Kahl and Matt Shors, 3rd bid
1993 -- Jenni Ouding and Matt Shors, 9th bid
1995 -- Mike Dickler and Scott Hessell, 14th bid
1996 -- Mike Dickler and Scott Hessell, 4th bid
1997 -- Scott Hessell and Corey Stoughton, 1st bid
1998 -- Corey Stoughton and Lesley Wexler, 3rd bid
1999 -- Jason Hernandez and Kelly Steele, 8th bid
1999 -- Chris Pudelski and Gabe Scannapieco, 12th bid
2000 -- Chris Pudelski and Gabe Scannapieco, 7th bid
2001 -- Adriana Midence and Carl Sammartino, 13th bid
2003 -- Jonah Feldman and John Oden, 10th bid

NDT Elimination Teams:

1987, Denise Losbough and Jim Speta, Octafinals
1987, Mike Green and Andrew Schrank, Octafinals
1988, Mike Green and Andrew Schrank, Semifinals
1988, Denise Losbough and Jim Speta, Quarterfinals
1989, Joe Thompson and Andrew Schrank, Finals
1989, David Brownell and Denise Losbough, Quarterfinals
1990, Colin Kahl and Matt Shors, Octafinals
1991, Colin Kahl and Matt Shors, Finals
1992, Colin Kahl and Matt Shors, Quarterfinals
1993, Jenni Ouding and Matt Shors, Octafinals
1993, Gorav Jindal and Raj Shah, Double Octafinals
1994, Gorav Jindal and Raj Shah, Double Octafinals
1995, Mike Dickler and Scott Hessell, Octafinals
1996, Mike Dickler and Scott Hessell, Semifinals
1996, Corey Stoughton and Matt Rice, Double Octafinals
1997, Scott Hessell and Corey Stoughton, Semifinals
1997, Jason Hernandez and Tony Nicalo, Octafinals
1997, Ellen Oberwetter and Lesley Wexler, Double Octafinals
1998, Corey Stoughton and Lesley Wexler, Semifinals
1999, Jason Hernandez and Kelly Steele, Octafinals
1999, Chris Pudelski and Gabe Scannapieco, Octafinals
2000, Adriana Midence and Carl Samartino, Double Octafinals
2000, Chris Pudelski and Gabe Scannapieco, Double Octafinals
2001, Adriana Midence and Carl Sammartino, Quarterfinals
2002, Adriana Midence and Shaun VanHorn, Double Octafinals
2002, Jonah Feldman and John Oden, Octafinals
2003, Jonah Feldman and John Oden, Octafinals

NDT Speaker Awards:

1988 -- Mike Green, 5th
1988 -- Andrew Schrank, 6th
1989 -- Joe Thompson, 5th
1989 -- Andrew Schrank, 7th
1991 -- Colin Kahl, 4th1992 -- Matt Shors, 6th1993 -- Matt Shors, 1st1996 -- Mike Dickler, 6th1996 -- Scott Hessell, 4th1997 -- Scott Hessell, 2nd
1997 -- Corey Stoughton, 8th1997 -- Lesley Wexler, 10th1998 -- Corey Stoughton, 5th1998 -- Lesley Wexler, 3rd1999 -- Jason Hernandez, 12th2000 -- Gabe Scannapieco, 17th
2002 -- Adriana Midence, 2nd
2003 -- Jonah Feldman, 11th

Other Tournament Successes for Michigan Debate

Augustana Round Robin Champions
ADA National Champions
Baylor Champions
Capital City Champions
Dartmouth College Champions
Dartmouth Round Robin Champions
Kentucky Champions
Kentucky Round Robin Champions
Harvard University Champions
Northern Iowa Champions
Northwestern Champions
USC Champions
Wake Forest University Champions
Wayne State Champions

The Success Does not End with Debate.
Some of the accomplishments of our recent graduates include:

Peter Baldwin, University of Michigan Business School, Investment Banking, UBS Warburg LLS
Michael Braun, Manager, Pharmacia Corporation
Matthew Cannon, JD and PHD in the sociology of law, The University of California at Berkeley
Michael Dickler, Michigan Law School Alumnus, Sperling & Slater
Jason Hernandez, Law Student, Columbia Law School, Kirkland & Ellis
Scott Hessell, Chicago Law School Alumnus, Kirkland & Ellis
Jonah Feldman, Graduate Student, University of Texas
Colin Kahl, PhD, Professor of Political Science, University of Minnesota
Gil Krakowsky, PhD Candidate in Comparative Politics, University of Michigan
Adriana Midence, Emory Law School Alumna, Balch & Bingham
Matt Mish, Financial Analyst, Citigroup
Ellen Oberwetter, Texas Law School Alumna, Williams & Connolly LLP
Chris Pudelski, Law Student, Northwestern Law School, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr
Matthew Rice, Law Student, Stanford Law School, Jenner & Block
Dan Samson, Law Student, Virginia Law School, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Gabriel Scannapieco, Law Student, Harvard Law School
Raj Shah, University of Michigan Law School Alumnus, DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US
Matt Shors, Stanford Law School Alumnus, O' Melveny & Myers
Josh Smith, The University of Michigan Medical School
Jim Speta, Professor of Law, Northwestern University
Corey Stoughton, Harvard Law School Alumna, ACLU NYC Staff Attorney

Shaun Van Horn, New York University Law School
Lesley Wexler, University of Chicago Alumna, Professor at Florida State University Law School

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