(WARRENSBURG, Mo.) – The University of Central Missouri Talking Mules debate team finished second in debate sweeps at the Hutchinson, Kan., Community College forensics tournament Friday, Sept. 28.
“The Talking Mules have a great start out of the gate,” said Arthur Rennels, director of forensics. “All of these tournaments are tough and have national level competition. Personally, I couldn’t be more proud of the team. We have some of the best and brightest minds on our team, and I’m privileged to work with them – to help them discover their own success and to build upon that success. That’s what UCM is all about.”
Representing the team at HCC were Ryan Michael, Mariah Suddarth, Brent Mitchell, Jeff May, Ethan Putman, Matt Gilmore, David Rogers, Dominic Price, Derek Pritchett, Micah Chrisman and Amanda Hall.
Finalists in parliamentary debate were May and Putman with second place. Rogers and Gilmore advanced to the final-four semi-finals. Winning individual speaker awards were Putman, third place; Chrisman, fourth place; and Pritchett, fifth place. Michael took home second place in impromptu speaking, fourth in after dinner speaking, and fifth in informative speaking.
“Being on this team already has helped me grow as an individual,” Putnam said. “It has allowed me to fulfill my civic duties, become more educated on important political matters and foreign policy and meet some great, new friends.”
The group split its squad and sent a team to Southwest Baptist University and a team to the United States Air Force Academy Friday, Sept. 21. The Mules performed in individual events, world’s debate and parliamentary debate.
Michael, Mitchell, Jarrod Best, and Zac McGee represented the Talking Mules at SBU. The group took second place in overall individual events sweepstakes. Michael won extemporaneous and informative speaking, and was second in after dinner speaking and pentathlon. McGee and Best won the duo interpretation event. Michael and Mitchell finished third and sixth, respectively in impromptu speaking. McGee finished fourth place in poetry.
Competitors at USAFA were May, Putman, Pritchett, Price, Rogers, Chrisman, Gilmore, and Mike Lusareta. Putman and May advanced to finalist rounds in Parliamentary debate, finishing second place overall. Advancing to semi-final rounds in novice parliamentary debate were partners Gilmore and Rogers. Gilmore was awarded second place as the overall speaker. Rogers won finished second in impromptu speaking and fourth in extemporaneous speaking. Putman claimed fifth place in novice extemporaneous speaking and novice impromptu speaking.
The Talking Mules are scheduled to host its annual tournament Friday, Oct. 19 at the Elliott Union.
 
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