Published on March 10, 2016 by Sean Flynt  

The Â鶹ÊÓƵ junior varsity debate team of Carly Davis of Windermere, Florida, and Wesley Staples of Killen, Alabama, finished fifth at the National Speech and Debate Association’s JV/Novice Nationals held at West Virginia Â鶹ÊÓƵ March 5–7.

The team had a winning preliminary record, defeating teams from Rutgers Â鶹ÊÓƵ, West Virginia Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Liberty Â鶹ÊÓƵ and the Â鶹ÊÓƵ of Central Florida before defeating Liberty in the round of sixteen. They were finally defeated in the quarterfinals on a close decision against the Â鶹ÊÓƵ of Michigan. 

Davis was named eleventh speaker in the nation at the tournament, adding to her recent recognition as the regional Novice Debater of the Year.

 
Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford enrolls 6,324 students from 44 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford is widely recognized as having one of the most beautiful campuses in America, featuring rolling hills, meticulously maintained grounds and Georgian-Colonial architecture. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and boasts one of the highest scores in the nation for its 97% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.