On October 16-17, the PLNU speech and debate team competed at the Azusa Pacific speech and debate tournament with 35 other colleges and universities primarily from the western states. In debate, four of our eight teams advanced to the elimination rounds, with each of our remaining teams merely one win away, or less, from advancing.

As a school, we were fortunate enough to earn Third Place Sweepstakes in the University Division behind Arizona State and Northern Arizona University which both tied for First. The individual and debate team results are listed below. We are especially thankful for and appreciative of the coaching assistance from our many alumni volunteers. 


The team bus did not return to campus until nearly 2:30 a.m. since we had to stay to compete in the final round of debate and Azusa is several hours away. If our students were able to make their morning classes, they may not have been very alert. I hope you will extend them a bit of leeway. Thanks for your support.

Debate Results:

Open Division

Andrew Hoag & Dominique Marino - Quarterfinalists

Junior Division

Jordan Cherry & Griffith Vertican – Second Place

Mitch Houseman & Ryan Moynihan - Quarterfinalists

Elly Garner & Bethany Roquemore - Octafinalists

Debate Speakers:

Junior Division

Ryan Moynihan – Fifth Place

Griffith Vertican – Eighth Place

Elly Garner – Eleventh Place

Novice Division

Kevin Davis – Fifth Place

April Griffin – Twelfth Place

Individual Events:

Chris Champine: Open Extemporaneous Semifinalist

Kevin Davis: Novice Extemporaneous Third Place

Elly Garner: Novice Impromptu Semifinalist, Novice Prose Semifinalist

Joel Day & Mitch Houseman: Open Duo Interpretation Fifth Place

Ashleigh Livingston: Open Extemporaneous Semifinalist,

Open Rhetorical Criticism Third Place.

Dominique Marino: Open Extemporaneous Fifth Place

Carissa Phillips: Open Extemporaneous Semifinalist

Bethany Roquemore: Novice Extemporaneous - Semifinalists

Griffith Vertican: Open Extemporaneous Semifinalist