JRP Wins Big at Weber State Competition

The John R. Park Debate Society traveled up the road to compete at the Weber State University debate tournament on October 25th and 26th, 2026. Students competed in policy debate, CARD debate, and individual events. 

In policy debate, Utah competed against “District 2”, a national debate tournament region made up of schools from the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain states. It was a difficult Round Robin style competition. Utah ended the tournament in the semifinals against Gonzaga. 

In CARD debate, first-year competitors Liam Pheysey and Jon Bower also ended in the semifinals, and Liam earned the top speaker award in the analysis category. Schools from across the West also convened to compete in individual speaking, where JRP freshman Nate Keoppel placed in dramatic interpretation! 

The team will continue its season with speech competition at the Golden Eagle Invitational in Cheyenne, WY on November 7th and debate competition at Wake Forest on November 13th - 16th!

 

WEBER COMPLETE RESULTS

Debate Awards

Semifinalists - CARD Debate - Liam Pheysey & Jon Bower

Semifinalists - Policy Debate - Benji Verbeck-O’Brien & Jeremy Parrish 

 

1st place - CARD Speaker (Analysis) - Liam Pheysey 

8th place - Policy Speaker - Jeremy Parrish

10th place - Policy Speaker - Maria Manousakis 

 

Individual Event Awards 

3rd place - Dramatic Interpretation - Nate Keoppel