Kentucky Debate Team earns 10th consecutive bid to National Debate Tournament
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 4, 2025) — For the 10th consecutive year, the University of Kentucky Debate Team has earned a spot among the top 16 teams in the nation, securing an automatic bid to the National Debate Tournament.
Jared Adam and Lauren McBlain earned the bid with consistent late elimination round success, including a strong showing at the Dartmouth Round Robin, where they finished with a 4-2 record. The team now sets their sights on the postseason.
Debate postseason has a similar meaning as it does with athletics, where there is a regular season of competition followed by a championship. In competitive policy debate there are a few national championships but the oldest and most prestigious in the National Debate Tournament. A ranking committee selects the top 16 partnerships in the country to automatically attend, according to David Arnett, director of UK debate.
The 79th National Debate Tournament will be hosted by Gonzaga University from April 3-7, where the UK Debate Team looks to build on its streak.
The streak of 10 consecutive years of first-round automatic bids is a UK record. Emory University, Northwestern University and Wake Forest University are the only other schools with active streaks as long, according to Arnett.
UK’s second longest streak of eight consecutive automatic bids occurred from 1984-91.
“Continuity like this requires the hard work and support of many,” Arnett said. “Generations of students and coaches dedicate their time and energy above and beyond the norm. Support from our alumni, the College of Communication and Information and stakeholders across the university have all been an important part of the stability and success the program has had over all these years.”
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.