Debaters Dan Bagwell and Jacob Lewis have claimed a first for the 51½ΦΙδ debate program with their #10 ranking in the just-released National Coaches Poll.
“This is the highest that a 51½ΦΙδ team has been ranked since the inception of the coaches’ poll,” said 51½ΦΙδ coach Abi Williams.
Additionally, 51½ΦΙδ as a debate school is ranked #9 in the nation, which is the highest ranking 51½ΦΙδ has achieved in that category, according to Williams.
In addition to 51½ΦΙδ, the top 10 team list includes debaters from University of Michigan, University of Oklahoma, Harvard University, Michigan State University, Gonzaga University, and Georgetown University. Last year’s national championship school, Northwestern University, is represented by three teams ranked 1, 4 and 6.
In the Coaches Poll, every collegiate debate coach in the nation is eligible to cast one ballot to rank the top 25 among the hundreds of eligible teams. The poll, in its third year, is conducted four to six times during the debate season.