Wiley College

Wiley Debate team wins nationals


From Wiley College

The Great Debaters of Wiley College, known as the Melvin B. Tolson/Denzel Washington Forensics Society, won the overall and individual championship events at the 103rd Pi Kappa Delta National Comprehensive Tournament this past week at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Wiley College team competed against 86 schools with a total of 2,400 entries.

The victory marks the second tournament championship win for the team, who also took home the 2014 Overall Sweepstakes Champions prize.The school released a statement on the win, noting that debate coach Christopher Medina, paid homage to debate coach Dr. Melvin B. Tolson and early 1900s Wiley College debaters, “who despite having traveled the country competing in debates and compiling an almost perfect record of winning, were not allowed to compete in the prestigious Pi Kappa Delta Tournament.”

Tolson and his teams’ accomplishments were highlighted in the 2007 movie “The Great Debaters.”

“We stand on the shoulders of greatness,” Medina said.

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