Saturday, December 10, 2005

2006 Faculty Update

Please see the link to the left regarding the 2006 Faculty Update. You'll find long descriptions of the 2006 faculty both for the 3-week Red Hawk and the 5-week Miami Scholars programs.

Steve Mancuso

Apply to 2006 Workshop NOW!

We have started taking applications for next summer's Miami Debate Institutes. There is NO application fee this year for either program.

The Red Hawk is our 3-week workshop, which runs from June 25 to July 15, 2006.

The Miami Scholars is our 5-week workshop, which runs from June 25 to July 29, 2006.

To apply for either of the two programs simply click on the link in the left-hand column called "Apply Now for Summer 2006." It will just take you a few minutes and you'll be completely registered.

We are expecting application levels to be very high this year. To be sure to reserve your place, apply as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, write to: debate@muohio.edu

We look forward to viewing your application.

Steve Mancuso

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Miami in the Motor City

Several Miami teams competed at the Wayne State tournament in Detroit, Michigan a couple of weeks ago. The Wayne State tournament is the premier first-semester District Five tournament, attracting teams from all across the Midwest and beyond.

Miami's team of Ilya Galperin and Aaron Vinson achieved a 6-2 record cleared for the second time this year. Ilya was named the Second Speaker at the tournament. Two other teams from Miami attended - "The Mikes" - Mike Jensen and Michael Richardson went 3-5, and Lydia Elkins and Julie Wickenheiser were 4-4 in the JV division.

Here is our photojournal:

Director of Forensics, Ben Voth with Aaron Vinson.

Michael Richardson apparently giving Ilya a close shave.

A wide-awake Aaron and Ilya.

Mike Richardson prepping.

Lydia at lunch.

Ilya and Aaron, who went 6-2.

We think Michael was dressed like this for Halloween, although we're not completely sure.

Ilya Galperin, second speaker.

The coaching staff cuts it loose at a "loud Mexican restaurant". That's "Disco" Ben Voth and assistant coach Erika Thomas.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Harvard

Mike Maffie and Kevin Wieck represented Miami at the Harvard University tournament. And while our competitive success was not what we would have liked, we did have a wonderful time. Afterall, the Harvard folks know how to throw a great tournament, and it was Halloween weekend. (see the pictures below of debaters wearing costumes.)

We were joined that weekend by one of our recruits, Chris Barnett, a debater from St. John's Jesuit in Toledo.

Kevin and Chris before the tournament.

Mike Maffie working before the tournament.

Driving in to the tournament on day one, this the famous and beautiful Charles River.

Here is picture of part of Harvard Square.

Starting the halloween theme - Will Repko (Michigan State) as Speed Racer.

Two goulish fellows from Texas.

Casey "Peter Pan" Harrigan (Michigan State) and Matt "Hook" Bostick (Missouri State).

Michael Rasta Klinger, Harvard.

The Devil made Sarah Holbrook do this.

A rougher version of the Easter Bunny, David Strauss, former NDT Champion.

Mike Hester scarily representing the Bird Flu.

Scenic Harvard Yard.

Kevin and Mike debating.

More Harvard Yard.

The world-famous Widenor Library.

The Harvard tournament is well-known for Sherry Hall's outdoor home-cooked lunches. Here's the set up on day two.

Two of our workshop grads from Lexington High School, Will Sears and Sam Caporal, showed up to watch some rounds. Here's Sam.

Sherry serving up some good cooking.

More costumes:



Here are our most gracious hosts for the weekend, Sherry Hall and Dallas Perkins, at the final awards banquet.

Kentucky and Loyola

On October 7 through 9 we competed at the University of Kentucky tournament, which had over 100 teams, including virtually every good team in the nation.

We had four teams compete that weekend, including Ilya and Aaron; Mike and Mike; Stephen Soloman and Jon Gair; and Mike and Kevin. We don't have any pictures right now from that weekend, but we did have some significant accomplishments.

Mike and Kevin cleared as one of the top 32 teams and debated Berkeley in the Double-Octas. We lost a close elimination round debate to the very team that eventually won the tournament.

Two weekends later we took two teams to the Loyola tournament in Chicago.

Mike Richardson and Mike Jensen went 4-2 in the prelims. Jon Gair and Aaron Vinson also went 4-2 in prelims. The Mikes won two elimination rounds before losing in the semi-finals. Jon and Aaron lost in the quarterfinals.

Aaron Vinson did win Top Speaker at the tournament.

Here is our photojournal:

Here we are outside the van before leaving on the trip.

We hit a huge traffic jam just outside of downtown Chicago which caused a three-hour delay.

Ever resourceful, the debaters passed the time being schooled in Monopoly by Mike Richardson.

Here are Aaron and Jon as we ate dinner at White Castle on Thursday night.

Here is some pre-tournament preparation in the beautiful Cass Hotel.

Here we are working in the lobby before the tournament started.

A dinner photo - at original Uno's pizza - famous for inventing deep-dish pizza in Chicago.

During the tournament we were able to work on the wireless network at Loyola. Here, Head Debate Coach, Steve Mancuso cuts a few cards (and maybe also checking out a few college football scores).

Aaron Vinson and his Top Speaker Award.

Jon and Aaron prepping for their Elimination Round.

The Mikes prepping for their Elimination Round.

Finally, the famous Sears Tower, not so impressive up close...

Monday, October 03, 2005

The Miami Round Robin

This past weekend, October 1-2, the Miami University Debate Team hosted the first Miami Round Robin, featuring seven outstanding high school teams, representing four states. The event was hosted at the Miami University Marcum Conference Center where all participants stayed and the debates were held.

On the opening night the teams gathered first for the opening assembly - here was the spread of certificate trophies to be given out at the tournament.
Also that night the participants socialized before heading to Uptown Oxford for some ice cream.
The "Way We Were" - St. John's Jesuit BR.
And then St. John's BRZ - Dave Zavac, Chris Barnett and Mike Richardson (MU, '09)
The Chattahoochee team of Stefan Jiang and Shasha Zou.
Justin Wilhelm, Chris, Dave and Eli Jacobs, still the night before the tournament.
A small argument broke out (among debaters, imagine that) between Alec Wright (Centerville) and Kyle Davis (MBA). The argument was something about who the best junior in the country is.
Dave modeling the Round Robin T-shirt.
Princeton debater Priya Parikh.
MBA's Kyle Davis.
The Ohio Coaching Mafia: Kristie Cramer (Central Catholic), Alan Bates (Princeton) and Marie Dzuris (Centerville).
Our official photographer, Michael Maffie.
Michael Richardson seemed to be an attractive target for hugs. From Bree Novak...
...from our own Kevin Wieck.
More Kevin...
The debaters received plenty of feedback from the judges. Here is Miami DOF Ben Voth giving advice to Alec.
Here MU professor and former college debate coach Jim Cherney and MU assistant coach Erika Thomas offer some tips to St. John's and Groves.
Here are judges Ilya Galperin (Miami Sophomore) and Mike Richardson (Miami First-Year).
And here is Eli Jacobs (Centerville) who, apparently having run out of room writing on his hand, had to resort to writing down judge comments on paper.
After the final round the participants gathered for the awards assembly.
The Third Speaker was Justin Wilhelm from Canton Central Catholic.
The Second Place Speaker was Alec Wright, from Centerville.
And, winning First Place Speaker by .5 points was junior Eli Jacobs from Centerville.
Participation Awards were given to the following teams:
Chattahoochee - Stefan Jiang and Shasha Zou.
Birmingham (Michigan) Groves High School - Kelly Goodman and Alex Pasqualini.
Princeton High School - Priya Parikh and Kavitha Subramanian.
And St. John's Jesuit - Chris Barnett and Dave Zavac.
Finishing in Third Place, winning 6 out of 12 ballots, was the team from Canton Central Catholic - Bree Novak and Justin Wilhelm.
Finishing in Second Place, with 8 out of 12 ballots was the team from Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) - Kyle Davis and Jamie Berk.
And the First Place Team, winning all 12 of their 12 ballots, was the team from Centerville, Ohio - Eli Jacobs and Alec Wright.
After the awards, former MBA (and current Miami First Year) debater Kevin Wieck shows his love for his former squad's accomplishment, hugging the Second Place award.
After the teams had departed the Miami Debate Team dashed to The Smokin' Ox for a well-earned Survivor's Dinner.
We enjoyed hosting the Round Robin and congratulate all the participants!