Trojan Debate Team establishes win streak in debate tournament

The Trojan Debate Team won big for the second year in a row at the Sunshine State Series debate tournament.  

Seventy students from across 20 schools competed in the online tournament held by the University of West Florida. Among them were four students from Troy University: Ashton Chancery; Blayne Flowers; Natalie Elliot, who was a novice quarter finalist; and Carmen Cruz, who became the novice champion.  

Cruz, a sophomore history major from Madison, Alabama, won the title of novice champion after going undefeated for every round of the tournament.  

“I did seven [rounds] in total, which is a lot,” Cruz said. “We have four preliminary rounds.  

“You have to win three out of those four to do a cold break, so then you go to quarterfinals, semifinals and then your final round.” 

Cruz said she was really excited when they announced she had won.  

“It was my first tournament ever, so I was really shocked that I had made it that far,” Cruz said.  

 Lecturer in Communications and Debate Club Advisor Mike Gray said there’s a feeling you get as a debate coach when a win becomes a near inevitability. 

Mood, confidence and momentum converge in just the right way, and there's just no other way it could go,” Gray said. “I think it was after her quarter-final round when I told Carmen she was about to win the whole thing.” 

Gray said there is no feeling like watching one of his students win.  

“Every time one of our students wins a tournament, it is a unique moment of intense pride,” Gray said. “They put themselves out there, get tested and judged through a day-long gauntlet of debate and they emerge champions.  

“It's heroic.” 

Matilda Ziegler, a senior history major from Shelby, North Carolina, is the president of the Trojan Debate Club. She is proud of the way the team competed.  

“I am proud of how well Carmen and Natalie did at this tournament,” said Ziegler. “It’s been such a blessing to be able to be part of the growth of such an incredible team,” said Ziegler. 

Cruz encouraged students who are interested to give debate a try.  

“I think it'll transform your social life, honestly,” Cruz said. “I think that I've gotten a lot more confident in conversation since joining debate, and so I think that a lot more improvisation can help you in social settings, professional settings, educational settings, anything like that.”  

Trojan Debate practices every Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the third floor of Wallace Hall in room 336-b. Those interested in keeping up with them can follow them on Instagram @trojan_debate.  

Their next tournament will be on November 7th.