KSU Maintains top 25 Standing

The team of Beth Mendenhall & Derek Zeigler advanced from 16 to 15 in this months coaches poll. K-State as a whole remains 12th.

Team (First Place Votes) – Points Per Eligible Ballot (Previous Position)

1. Harvard JP (13) - 24.43 (2)
2. Cal-Berkeley BP (2) - 23.65 (1)
3. Emory IW (7) - 23.45 (4)
4. Northwestern FS - 22.33 (3)
5. Oklahoma GW - 20.71 (21)
6. Kansas KQ - 19.20 (6)
7. Michigan LZ - 18.33 (9)
8. Northwestern BK - 18.23 (5)
9. Emory GJ - 16.52 (10)
10. Wake CM - 15.09 (7)
11. Georgia LL - 14.85 (11)
12. Harvard KT - 14.76 (8/NR)
13. Georgia State GS - 11.76 (NR)
14. Emory KS - 9.24 (14)
15. Kansas State MZ - 8.14 (16)
16. Towson CK - 7.95 (NR)
17. Samford BG - 7.55 (23)
18. Gonzaga KM - 7.15 (13)
19. Georgetown DM - 6.81 (15)
20. Michigan State GK - 6.79 (12)
21. Texas-Dallas BR - 5.90 (19)
22. Missouri State FR - 4.95 (17)
23. Baylor FK - 4.00 (NR)
24. Vanderbilt BN - 2.50 (NR)
25. Emory GN - 1.95 (NR)

Dropped out: No. 18 Idaho State IJ, No. 20 CSU Fullerton CT, No. 22 Kentucky GG, No. 24 Harvard BB, No. 25 Northwestern GL

Also receiving votes: Baylor CM, CSU Fullerton CT, Harvard BB, Idaho State IJ, Kansas KP, Kentucky GG, Texas-San Antonio LM, Towson EM, Trinity BG, Trinity MM

Top 25 Schools (by total points to that school per eligible ballot):

1. Emory - 51.16
2. Harvard - 40.90
3. Northwestern - 40.56
4. Cal-Berkeley - 23.65
5. Oklahoma - 20.71
6. Kansas - 19.85
7. Michigan - 18.33
8. Wake - 15.09
9. Georgia - 14.85
10. Georgia State - 11.76
11. Towson - 8.19
12. Kansas State - 8.14
13. Samford - 7.55
14. Gonzaga - 7.15
15. Georgetown - 6.81
16. Michigan State - 6.79
17. Texas-Dallas - 5.90
18. Missouri State - 4.95
19. Baylor - 4.18
20. Vanderbilt - 2.50
21. Texas-San Antonio - 1.32
22. Idaho State - 0.82
23. CSU Fullerton - 0.82
24. Trinity - 0.73
25. Kentucky - 0.62

Debate Team Featured in KSU News Release

Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010

DEBATE TEAM GOES GREEN, ACHIEVES FIRST AT GONZAGA

MANHATTAN -- The Kansas State University debate team swept the recent Gonzaga tournament. It was the team's best tournament performance since at least 1985, according to Justin Green, K-State debate team director.

The pairing of Derek Ziegler, junior in political science and philosophy, Manhattan, and Beth Mendenhall, senior in political science and philosophy, Olathe, went 10-0 to earn first place in the tournament, first seed and the top speaker award.

"We have dubbed it the trifecta: the top seed, top speaker and winning the tournament. It is an extreme rarity for a school to do," said Green, who is an instructor of communication studies, theater and dance.

Mendenhall and Ziegler put in at least 30 hours of practice on top of jobs and school in the weeks prior to the tournament.

Some of the preparation was time spent learning a new electronic system for debate. The system, called Synergy, is more convenient for the debaters and is eco-friendly.

"Overall, it will save boxes and boxes of paper," Mendenhall said.

Each team of two used approximately 6,000 pages of evidence in the past. K-State has 11 teams of two, which means the team is saving more than 66,000 pieces of paper.

The shift from paper to electronic did cause some concerns.

"It was very stressful to make the transition but we did a lot of preparation," Mendenhall said. "There is always that fear of a blank screen, but Derek's ability to deal with computer issues is a big factor that helps."

The team took time this summer to learn and understand the software to be able to solve problems that may come up.

"It's paying off now because we don't have to fight with the technology as much," Ziegler said.

It also saves the team airfare, as the boxes of evidence they used to bring to tournaments weighed 300 pounds or more.

"We have found that the cost savings of going paperless with airfare, copier contracts and paper purchases have off-set the necessary technology that we needed to buy," Green added. "In future years this will mean that we will save money because we will already have the technology needed."

The debate team is looking forward to more successful tournaments this season. "This success was a testament to the overall work ethic and effort of this squad," Green said. "We are always looking for more debaters."

The K-State debate team has 22 members and a coaching staff of five.

"Debate is valuable because it provides a forum where individuals can hone their speaking and critical thinking skills in an environment that's very accepting of all forms of thought," Ziegler said. "Debate has been less of a hobby I do, and more of a supplement to my overall collegiate experience. I think that supplemental knowledge will serve me well into the future."

Students with experience in debate are encouraged to join the team. For more information, contact Green at 785-532-6863 or jmgreen@k-state.edu, or stop by 007 Kedzie Hall for more information.

Kansas State University • Manhattan, KS • 66506 • 785-532-6011

© Kansas State University

October 4, 2010

Kansas State Ranked in Coaches Poll

K-State MZ is ranked 16th best two person team in the nation and the Kansas State Debate Team is ranked the 12th best team to debate for in America! GO STATE!

1. Cal-Berkeley BP (18) – 25.00
2. Harvard JP – 23.56
3. Northwestern FS – 23.25
4. Emory IW – 21.71
5. Northwestern BK – 20.50
6. Kansas KQ – 19.71
7. Wake Forest CM – 18.56
8. Harvard KR – 18.39
9. Michigan LZ – 15.24
10. Emory GJ – 13.39
11. Georgia LL – 13.38
12. Michigan State GK – 12.81
13. Gonzaga KM – 12.06 (H/L 12.00)
14. Emory KS – 12.06 (H/L 11.94)
15. Georgetown DM – 11.76
16. Kansas State MZ – 11.56
17. Missouri State FR – 9.22
18. Idaho State IJ – 6.83
19. Texas-Dallas BR – 5.29
20. CSU Fullerton CT – 5.22
21. Oklahoma GW – 4.06
22. Kentucky GG – 3.41
23. Samford BG – 2.53
24. Harvard BB – 2.39
25. Northwestern GL – 2.18

Also receiving votes: Baylor CM, Cornell HK, Emory GN, Georgia State GS, Kansas KP, Liberty FH, Northwestern BW, Texas CM, Towson EM, Trinity MM

Top 25 Schools (by total points to that school per eligible ballot):

1. Emory – 47.55
2. Northwestern – 46.11
3. Harvard – 44.34
4. Cal-Berkeley – 25
5. Kansas – 20.24
6. Wake Forest – 18.56
7. Michigan – 15.24
8. Georgia – 13.38
9. Michigan State – 12.81
10. Gonzaga – 12.06
11. Georgetown – 11.76
12. Kansas State – 11.56
13. Missouri State – 9.22
14. Idaho State – 6.83
15. Texas-Dallas – 5.29
16. CSU Fullerton – 5.22
17. Oklahoma – 4.06
18. Kentucky – 3.41
19. Samford – 2.53
20. Georgia State – 1.89
21. Towson – 1.88
22. Trinity – 1.56
23. Liberty – 1.22
24. Baylor – 1.22
25. Texas – 0.56

Thanks to Arizona State, Cal Berkeley, Georgetown, Georgia, Gonzaga, James Madison, Kansas, Kentucky, Mary Washington, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Samford, Texas-Dallas, Towson, UMKC, Weber State, and Whitman for voting.

Frosh Debut @ Wichita State This Weekend

Kansas State will travel six two person debate teams to Wichita this weekend. This tournament marks the debut of new frosh on the team including: Michael Washburn, Bonnie Meyers, and Logan Papon. In addition, several sophomore and junior teams one senior team who took the first two weekends of the season off to focus on graduate school applications will make their fall 2010 debut at Wichita this weekend. Follow us on twitter for updates as the tournament progresses.

GO STATE!

K-State Top 20 at Georgia State Tournament

KSU Attended the largest season opener in the nation this past weekend. After finishing as one of only 10 undefeated teams day one with another victory over Northwestern and a win vs. Harvard the competition ramped up on Day 2. KSU MZ lose two of the remaining preliminary debates and advanced as the 20th seed to elimination rounds where they lost a tough debate to Emory.

The Wildcats did not come home defeated. They came home more committed than ever to increasing their work effort to perform better in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

Wildcats Undefeated to Start Season!

Kansas State attended the Gonzaga University Jesuit Invitational Season Opener this weekend. This outing was the team's first after switching to debating on a "paperless" platform and proved highly successful. Diligent work effort before the season began paid off for seniors Beth Mendenhall and Derek Zeigler. In a field of 46 teams representing several schools such as Texas, Baylor, Cal Berkeley, Whitman College, Northwestern, Gonzaga and more (see comprehensive list here) KSU MZ won all six preliminary debates, and advanced to elimination rounds as the number one seed. MZ faced off with Wyoming in Octofinals, winning on a 3-0; followed by defeating the University of Texas on a 2-1 in quarterfinals; advancing over Northwestern on a 2-1 decision in semifinals ultimately defeating Idaho State University on a resounding 3-0 in the final round. Beth Mendenhall of Kansas State was named the top speaker at the tournament. Those of us in 007 Kedzie have coined this the "Trifecta", Beth as top speaker, clearing as top seed, and winning the tournament.