The University of Wyoming debate team earned national honors for its performances at the National Debate Tournament and the Cross-Examination Debate Association National Tournament, according to an April 30 announcement.
The recognition highlights a period of growth and achievement for the program, which fielded five teams at CEDA after having only one debater last fall. The team’s success is notable as it marks the best showing in several years and demonstrates progress among a group comprised mostly of first- or second-year collegiate competitors.
At the National Debate Tournament, Jaden Campbell from Saratoga and Jeremiah Hawley from Buffalo narrowly missed advancing to the top 32 elimination rounds. They won judges’ ballots against teams from Cornell University, George Mason University, University of Georgia, James Madison University, University of Oklahoma, and Trinity University. The pair also competed against nationally ranked teams from Iowa and Dartmouth.
During the CEDA National Tournament, Campbell and Hawley finished with a 5-3 record in preliminary rounds and reached triple-octofinals. Saimaa Widi from Cheyenne and Jean-Luc Willson from Thermopolis also went 5-3, advancing to double-octofinals after defeating California State University-Fullerton. Other first-year debaters Adam Pierson (Cheyenne), Aiden Hedrick (Gillette), Ryan Curran (St. John’s University), Brayden Lyday (Cheyenne), Hayvn Morrison (Baggs), and Rosalie Willson (Thermopolis) participated but did not advance past preliminary rounds.
For the first time since the 2022-23 season, two UW teams reached CEDA elimination rounds. Based on available records, this combined performance is considered the strongest for UW debate in at least fourteen years. The squad also received community-selected awards including recognition for best evidence and research, Bootstraps Award for hardest-working small squad, Rookie Director Award for Wayne Callaway as director of debate at UW; David Rooney was named a CEDA Critic of the Year.
The season marked the end of competitive careers for seniors Willson—who will pursue graduate study in international human rights law—and Campbell—who plans graduate work in zoology before medical school. “It has been a great first year as director, and I am really thankful for all of the hard work from our debaters; advocacy and help from alumni and donors; and to be able to enter such a wonderful support network for Wyoming Debate,” Rooney says.
