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7 March 2006

BRAVE RUN TO "FOUR-PEAT" FALLS SHORT
Four UVM Teams Finish In Top Ten at Novice/JV Nationals

| Leslie Keller and Megan Harlow -- #5 JV Debate Team in America | Ethan Nelson & Mike McMahan -- #9 |

Four JV national championships in a row was not to be, but there is no shame among those who are a part of the Lawrence Debate Union. Debate teams from UVM put on an extremely strong showing at the Novice & JV National Championships held at West Virginia University last weekend. Four teams finished in the top ten in the two divisions. Leslie Keller and Megan Harlow had a hot run in prelims as they compiled a 6-1 record. In the first elimination round they defeated Pittsburgh 2-1. Other JV teams reaching the elimination rounds included Mike McMahan and Ethan Nelson, who defeated Baylor 2-1 and then were paired against Megan and Leslie in the next round. Megan and Leslie advanced by virtue of their superior prelim record, as is LDU custom. Meanwhile Brady Fletcher and Stephanie Kimerer defeated the much feared University of Oklahoma team 2-1, but then lost in the next elimination round 2-1 to the University of Mary Washington. Thus, Mike & Ethan as well as Brady & Stephanie finished the tournament tied for ninth in the nation. In the next debate Leslie and Megan debated the University of Texas at San Antonio and lost a disappointing 3-0 decision to fall short of their goal to be novice national champs one hear and JV national champs the next. Leslie and Megan finish as the #5 JV debate team in America. In the novice division the team of Sam Lavallee and Matt Jokajtys defeated George Mason University 2-1 and then lost to West Point 3-0 to finish as the #9 novice debate team in America. Other teams just missed the elimination rounds, falling one round short were Chase Whiting and Shane Clark, Sumeet Sharma and Jeffrey Wilson in JV as well as Ethan Backus and Justin Brown in the novice division. Two UVM students were recognized as outstanding individual speakers, including Sam Lavallee as the #12 novice individual speaker and Justin Brown as the #15 novice individual speaker. The teams of David Bates & Alex Thibault along with Mandy Frank and Josid Ridolfo also attended, and three of them will be back next year.

<== Brady Fletcher & Stephanie Kimerer #9

The awards assembly had quite a UVM flair to it. In a packed auditorium last year's four UVM students (Brady, Stephanie, Leslie, Megan) who closed out novice nationals (finishing tied for first) were asked to present the novice awards. In the JV division two previous JV champions from UVM (Nick Landsman-Roos 2004 winner) and Jason Hitchcock (2005) presented the awards. Sarah Snider, now at Kansas State University, was there to present the John Jacobsohn Award for service to debate since she is a former winner. She presented the award to her father, UVM coach Alfred Snider, and as she handed him the plaque whispered, "Remember, I won this before you did." "It was great to get this award, especially after Sarah won it a couple of years ago," said dad, "and I appreciated all of the kind exaggerations about my contributions."

<=== Jeffrey Wilson & Sumeet Sharma

Without the contributions of so many the trip never would have taken place. Sallie Chafer was highest amongst them. She hosted the entire crew at her house on Thursday night. The group left Burlington on Thursday morning with the plan of getting to Sallie's house in West Virginia. A large country home in the middle of an apple orchard, there was room for everyone but most important was the climate of welcome and friendship. Snacks abounded and then a delicious dinner was available, including home baked french bread. After a long day on the road (and six hours of it in a fairly heavy snowstorm in central New York) it was good to reach a place that felt like home. The chocolate angel food cake with chocolate Bailey's Irish Cream frosting was the hit of the evening. The next morning Sallie provided a fabulous breakfast of fresh baked caramel cinnamon pistachio rolls, frittata, yogurt, cereal, coffee, fruit and juices. Bolstered by this hearty fare the crew embarked for the three hour drive tom Morgantown for the tournament. Once there Sallie's generosity did not stop, as she reserved special hotel space for Helen. Justin and Nakobe Morgan Parmett to make sure they were family comfortable. Jen Knops also deserves special commendation as she missed work at her law firm and came as a volunteer coach and judge, including that long drive. Emily Sanders also missed work and endured the drive to serve as a coach and judge. Varsity debaters Nick Landsman-Roos and Jason Hitchcock also came along as coaches and support staff. Helen, Justin and Nakobe also contributed a lot and had the extra privilege of being there as a family. Thanks to everyone!

<=== Justin Brown & Ethan Backus

"We are not going to win a national championship every year," said coach Snider, "and our students and coaches worked hard and did their best, and performed very, very well. We did a three-peat with the JV national title, and I kept saying that there is no real word for a four-peat. People said that would be a dynasty, but I am not sure we ever want to become that. Each time we debate we grow stronger and a bit wiser. Our large and ambitious squad is certainly doing that."

FUNDRAISING DRIVE CONTINUES

Contributions have begun to appear in the mailbox at Huber House and at the UVM contributions website.

Heroes of the cause this week included: David Poole, Mandy Frank's father, David Poole (big up to David Poole), Edward Osborn, Environmental Products and Services, Scott Lozen, Andrea (Looby) Amicangelo, and others. Thanks to Joe Patrice, Kathryn Rubino and Christy Webster of the West Point coaching staff for their contribution. Wow, that's debate community!

We have plane tickets, and now we need some funds for entry fees. Please push us over the top. All amounts are welcome, every bit helps, and every penny will be well-spent. Alumni are encouraged to contribute, which will be used to get Jason and Nick to the NDT in Illinois. Don't make them stay at home when they should be debating!
By request of some alums, meetings have been held with the Vermont Community Foundation to enable alumni to make larger gifts that will become an endowment to support Vermont Debate that will be housed at VCF.
Please make checks payable to "UVM Debate." You can mail them to Lawrence Debate Union, 475 Main Street, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405. Gifts are tax deductible.
Gifts can now be made online at https://alumni.uvm.edu/giving/support.asp , but please make sure to designate your gift for "Debate." Email your pdf receipt to alfred.snider@uvm.edu.
If you would like to talk about a major gift or a bequest you should contact Randy Wilson who is our contact in Development, and you can contact him by phone - Desk: 802/656-4253, Cell: 802/598-3961, Toll Free: 888/458-8691, Fax: 802/656-8678, or by e-mail: randy.wilson@uvm.edu.

FLASHPOINT TELEVISION

Watch Flashpoint from your computer screen whenever you want! You will need RealPlayer installed on your computer to become a part of our growing audience. Here are some recent programs now available at http://debate.uvm.edu/flashpoint.html. Watch on Burlington Channel 15 Tuesday 12:30 PM, Thursday 10 PM, Saturday 1 PM.
Next taping: Weekend of March 18-19.
Zoe Anderson is the topic and program coordinator.

SQUAD MEETS AT 6 PM EACH MONDAY NIGHT, 475 MAIN STREET, ALL WELCOME!

ALWAYS CALL IT HUBER HOUSE!