KU debate team ranks 5th in nation

February 27, 2004. LAWRENCE ­ The latest National Debate Tournament Varsity rankings place the University of Kansas team at fifth in the nation.

"KU's move up the national rankings has been a result of excellent performance at a number of tournaments throughout the season," KU Debate Coach Scott Harris says.

The University of California-Berkeley team is ranked number one nationally with Emory University in Atlanta, Ga.; the University of Texas at Austin; and Michigan State in East Lansing ranked ahead of KU. Harvard University and Dartmouth College trail KU with rankings for sixth and seventh place.

KU's teams will be attempting to qualify for the National Debate Tournament Feb. 28 and 29 at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.

NDT Varsity rankings are based on the top two senior division teams from a school at eight tournaments.

This spring, KU debaters Matt Cormack and Lindy Simonsen placed second at nationally attended tournaments hosted by Baylor University of Waco, Texas, and the University of North Texas of Dallas. During the first semester they earned a second-place finish at the University of Northern Iowa of Cedar Valls.

In addition, KU debaters Todd Jordan and Jordan Tinsley recently captured ninth place out of 144 teams competing at a tournament at Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill. They also finished in fifth place at a tournament hosted by the University of Texas at Dallas and nineth place at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. During the fall semester they took second place at the Emporia tournament and third place at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls.

KU has qualified for the NDT 32 consecutive times, the second longest active streak in the country. KU debaters have won the coveted national title four times. KU has sent more teams to the National Debate Tournament than any other college or university, and has recently begun a tradition of competition in the Cross-Examination Debate Association.

The KU debaters , their hometowns, level in school, majors, parent names and high schools are:

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Lenexa
Todd A. Jordan, senior in history , son of Terry and Marilyn Jordan; Shawnee Mission West High School

ARKANSAS
From Little Rock
Jordan Tinsely , senior majoring in English, son of Ed and Paula Tinsley; Little Rock Central High School

NEBRASKA
From Lincoln
Matthew Travis Cormack, sophomore majoring in economics , son of Craig and Linda Cormack,; Southeast High School in Lincoln

From Omaha
Lindy Simonsen, sophomore, planning to major in education, daughter of Roger and Barbara Simonsen; Millard South High School in Omaha

Contact: Scott Harris, debate coach, (785) 864-9878