The Walters State Debate Team’s Chris Cox and Cayden Keltgen scored their third straight open division tournament a victory at the Buccaneer Bear Debate Tournament held at Northeast State Community College in Blountville on April 1.
Cox, a music major from Morristown, and Keltgen, a pre-nursing major from Talbott, began their impressive streak with a state championship win at Belmont University in February and followed it up with another tournament victory at Pellissippi State Community College one week later. At Northeast, Keltgen was also honored as top speaker with Cox right behind him receiving a second-place speaker award.
“It’s impressive to win even one debate tournament when the area’s top colleges and universities send their best,” said Robert E. Pratt II, dean of the Humanities Division at Walters State and debate team coach. “Winning the varsity division at three straight tournaments is a once-in-a-generation accomplishment. What’s even more impressive is how this pair achieved excellence consistently. They posted an undefeated round record of 15-0 across the three tournament wins this semester.”
The team’s open door recruiting policy has led to diversity in every sense of the word. The 2022-23 team featured debaters ranging from 17-year-old dual enrollment college students, who are still in high school, to a 51-year old retuning to college. Most team members had no prior debate experience. Students interested in joining the team are free to visit practice.
