Index of University Press Releases

April 20, 2009

DWU debaters make strong showing against national champions

MITCHELL, S.D. – Capping a rebuilding year, members of the Dakota Wesleyan University Debate Team hosted teams from Black Hills State University, Spearfish, and national champion debaters from Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Mich. for the DWU Eleanor McGovern Invitational Debate Tournament on April 18.

Karla Hunter, assistant professor of communication, coached the 2009 DWU team and organized the tournament, which was co-hosted by the McGovern Center for Public Service and Leadership at DWU.

“I was impressed with our team’s dedication,” said Hunter. “Our competitors raved about their experience here and congratulated our team on the quality of their first effort.”

The DWU debate team was comprised of Todd Casselman, a junior from Constantine, Mich., and Analisa Morel, a freshman from Puerta Vallarta, Mexico.

Casselman said he was “a bit intimidated” by taking on the national champions his first time out, but noted that his past experience at the NAIA national wrestling tournament had helped him prepare mentally for the pressure.

Eleanor McGovern, late wife of Sen. George McGovern, was a competitive debater and a long-time supporter of the debate program at DWU. Ann McGovern, daughter of the McGoverns, was on hand to serve as a judge and present the awards.

“The teams were honored,” said Hunter, “to have Ann McGovern at the event. She personified her family’s love of debate and the great heritage of debate at DWU.”

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