ENMU Debate Team Breaks into the Nation's Top 10

Date: 10/27/2004
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253

PORTALES—Eastern New Mexico University's Debate and Forensics Program has broken into the Top 10 debate programs in the country, ranking #10 in the Cross-Examination Debate Association (CEDA) National Ranking and #11 in the American Forensics Association (AFA) Ranking. ENMU is number 1 in both the CEDA Rocky Mountain Region and the AFA District 9.

"Every member has aided our present ranking," coach Mick Souders said. "Each ballot won by our teams contributes to the national standing. The difference between #10 ENMU and #11 Arizona State University is less than one ballot. Every single round we win matters at this point."

According to Dr. Anthony Schroeder, program director, "Participation in regional and national tournaments is essential to maintaining the ranking. We have the debaters to be competitive at both the novice and varsity levels."

Unlike sports, in debate the Greyhounds compete against schools of all sizes, from huge Division I schools like UC-Berkeley to tiny junior colleges like Southwestern College in California. More than 160 colleges and universities are presently participating in collegiate policy debate.

CEDA TOP 25 OVERALL RANKINGS

  1. University of California-Berkeley
  2. San Francisco State University
  3. Wayne State University (MI)
  4. California State University-Fullerton
  5. California State University-Chico
  6. California Polytechnic Institute at San Luis Obispo
  7. Whitman College (WA)
  8. Southwest Missouri State University
  9. Arizona State University
  10. Eastern New Mexico University
  11. U.S. Military Academy
  12. Baylor University (TX)
  13. University of Pittsburgh
  14. University of Redlands (CA)
  15. John Carroll University (OH)
  16. Liberty University (VA)
  17. University of Missouri-Kansas City
  18. Cornell University
  19. Mary Washington College (VA)
  20. California State University-Northridge
  21. State University of New York-Binghamton
  22. Emporia State University (KS)
  23. Augustana College (IL)
  24. University of Rochester (NY)
  25. Gonzaga University (WA)

AFA OVERAL TOP 25 RANKINGS

  1. University of California-Berkeley
  2. San Francisco State University
  3. California State University-Fullerton
  4. Wayne State University (MI)
  5. Whitman College (WA)
  6. California State University-Chico
  7. California Polytechnic Institute at San Luis Obispo
  8. University of Redlands (CA)
  9. Southwest Missouri State University
  10. Emporia State University (KS)
  11. Eastern New Mexico University
  12. Baylor University (TX)
  13. University of Missouri-Kansas City
  14. U.S. Military Academy
  15. Liberty University (VA)
  16. Arizona State University
  17. John Carroll University (OH)
  18. Mary Washington College (VA)
  19. Gonzaga University (WA)
  20. California State University-Northridge
  21. University of Southern California
  22. Kansas State University
  23. University of Pittsburgh
  24. Augustana College (IL)
  25. California State University-Long Beach