In photo from left, Wiley Debaters are pictured in Houston attending the Rice University Classic Swing Speech and Debate Tournament, where they earned second place overall. The team also earned second place overall at a Rice University debate hosted by Alumni of the school. From left are Maliq Wright, Rahmane Dixon, Dimitri Brooks, Emmanuela Wade, Jaylen Bolden, and Louis Mendez, kneeling.
“The Great Debaters” of Wiley College rounded out their opening month of competition by again earning second place overall prizes at two tournaments, this time at Rice University September 28-30. The team earned second place overall at the annual Rice University Classic Swing, as well as a tournament hosted by Rice University Alumni.
Other schools that competed at the tournaments included University of Texas-Austin, Lone Star College-North Harris, University of Texas-El Paso, University of Louisiana-Lafayette, University of the Pacific, Rice University, and Tyler Community College.
Earlier in September, the Wiley College debate team kicked off its 2018-2019 season by earning top prizes, including second place overall, at the prestigious Alexis Elliott Memorial Round Robin Tournament, a by invitation only Lincoln-Douglas debate competition that is held annually at Western Kentucky University.
The results of each student at the Rice University Tournaments are as follows:
Rahmane Dixon, a sophomore from Houston, placed 5th in Extemporaneous Speaking, 5th in Impromptu Speaking, and 1st in Persuasion at the Rice tournament, as well as taking 1st in Persuasion at the Alumni tournament.
Louis Mendez, a junior from Houston, placed 3rd in Program Oral Interpretation and 5th in Informative at the Rice tournament, as well as taking 5th in Informative and 3rd in Program Oral Interpretation at the Alumni tournament.
Jaylon Bolden, a junior from Houston, placed 1st in Program Oral Interpretation and 6th in Prose at the Rice tournament; as well as taking 4th in Prose and 2nd in Program Oral Interpretation at the Alumni tournament.
Dimitri Brooks, a junior from Houston, placed 3rd in Persuasion and 2nd in Prose at the Rice tournament; as well as taking 2nd in Prose and 4th in Persuasion at the Alumni tournament.
Maliq Wright, a senior from Houston, placed 3rd in Informative at the Rice tournament, as well as taking 6th in Informative at the Alumni tournament.
Emmanuela Wade, a junior from Atlanta, GA, placed 3rd in Prose and 4th in Dramatic Interpretation at the Rice tournament; as well as taking 2nd in Dramatic Interpretation 1st in Poetry at the Alumni tournament.