Wake Forest Debate Team Wins National Title

A Wake Forest University debate team won the national championship in intercollegiate debating Monday night at the 51st National Debate Tournament.

Debaters Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and Brian Prestes won the top title after defeating a team from the University of Georgia in the tournament’s final round.

Wake Forest was among 72 teams from nine regions of the country chosen to compete in the tournament held March 21-March 24 at Liberty University.

In addition to being on the winning team, Prestes also was named the tournament’s third best individual speaker. Prestes is a senior from Worchester, Mass.

Gartenstein-Ross, a junior, is from Ashland, Ore.

Wake Forest debate has a long history that dates back to at least 1904. The program has produced numerous top debaters and is among a small number of schools that has qualified the most often for the National Debate Tournament’s national finals.

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