John R. Park Debate Society Hosts Spring Season Opener

The John R. Park Debate Society opened its Spring 2025 competitive season at home by hosting the Great Salt Lake Invitational and the UTEP Classic with tournament cohosts, the University of Texas-El Paso. The "swing" tournament allows schools to compete in two tournaments on the same weekend, doubling opportunities for students.  At the tournament, the team kicked off the Spring season with a strong competitive showing, including 20 final-round appearances across 2 days of competition, winning 4 of the 11 individual events. Additionally, first year forensics student Aubrie Powers won the prestigious Royal R. Garff Individual Events Sweepstakes award, securing the trophy for the University of Utah for the 3^rd year in a row. Although every team member enjoyed individual success, host institutions are not allowed to win team sweepstakes awards. The team will look to build on this strong start to the Spring season on February 1-2 at the Groundhog Day Invitational at Grossmont College in San Diego, California. 

COMPLETE RESULTS

Overall (Sweepstakes) Awards

Aubrie Powers – Royal R. Garff Individual Events Sweepstakes winner

Debate Awards 

3^rd Place NPDA – Aubrie Powers and Samantha Watrin

4^th place – Juan Boscan and Jeremy Parrish

4^th Place Speaker – NPDA – Samantha Watrin

5^th Place Speaker – NPDA – Will Ruzanski

8^th Place Speaker – NPDA – Jeremy Parrish

10^th Place Speaker – NPDA – Aubrie Powers

Individual Event Awards

1^st Place Communication Analysis – Juan Boscan

1^st Place Informative Speaking – Samantha Watrin

1^st Place Dramatic Interpretation – Jeremy Parrish

1^st Place Persuasive Speaking – Samantha Watrin

2^nd Place Communication Analysis – Jeremy Parrish

2^nd Place Extemporaneous Speaking – Aubrie Powers

2^nd Place Informative Speaking – Will Ruzanski

2^nd Place Persuasive Speaking – Maria Manousakis

3^rd Place Persuasive Speaking – Juan Boscan

3^rd Place Informative Speaking – Aubrie Powers

3^rd Place Poetry Interpretation – Juan Boscan

3^rd Place Program Oral Interpretation – Aubrie Powers

4th Place Extemporaneous Speaking – Myra Hicks

4^th Place After Dinner Speaking – Aubrie Powers

4^th Place Impromptu Speaking – Samantha Watrin

5^th Place Informative Speaking – Maria Manousakis

5^th Place Extemporaneous Speaking – Maria Manousakis

5^th Place Persuasive Speaking – Will Ruzanski