Stunning Success for Eagle Debate
2002 -- 2003 in Review
 
Eagle Debate finished the year ranking 67th out of 377 NPDA schools, or in the top 18 percent of the nation.
 
Highlights:
 
U.S. versus Canada.
Troy Henley and Jon King debate a top team from the University of British Columbia on the harms of fast food.
 
Great Alaska Speakout.
Jon King and Troy Henley win Third place and give top ranked Rice University their only loss. The story of their win  is reported in the Kirkland Currier.
 
Western Washington University.
Troy Henley and Jon King reach Quarter Finals.
 
Lower Columbia College.
Four Northwest College teams make finals -- generating the most debate awards of any of the 14 participating schools. The 30th annual tournament is reported in the Long View Daily News.
  • Jon King and Troy Henley -- the top ranked team going into finals --win second place in open division. 
  • Chandra Porter and Casey DeGennaro win third place in the open division. 
  • Desiree Knemeyer and Julie Reese win third place in the junior division.
  • Evan Muxen and Amy Robertson win a quarter finalist award in the novice division.
Oxford University.
Christina Reasner is one of 25 top American college students, the only one from a non-Ivy League school, accepted into the Oxford University Honors Program in London -- similar to the Rhodes Scholar program but for undergrads. She joins the Oxford Debating Society, the oldest debate organization in the world. Stories appear in the King County Journal and her home town paper in Alaska.
 
Pacific Lutheran University.
Nigel Reed and Casey DiGennaro reach Semi Finals in junior division, ranking third out of twenty-three teams.
 
University of British Columbia.
Troy Henley and Trevor Millar travel to the University of British Columbia for a show debate in opposition to legalizing marijuana.
 
International Debate Association. The IDEBATE journal publishes coach Gary Gillespie's article "Let the Games Begin: Tips for Winning Debates." IDEA fosters debate education in Eastern Europe.
 
Oregon State University.
Jon King and Troy Henley rank among the top three teams out of 46 in pre-eliminations rounds at Oregon State University "Speakeasy." With a five wins to one loss record, the men make Octo Finals.
 
International Forensics Association, Vancouver, Canada.
Trevor Millar and Evan Muxen win First place, making our team international champions. Jon King and Troy Henley win fourth place. Desiree Knemeyer and Julie Reese win sixth place. Sunday the team enjoyed snow boarding on Grouse Mountain.
 
NPDA Nationals at Portland State University. Chandra Porter and Casey DiGennaro reach final rounds to win a championship award.
 
U.S. versus Ireland Show Debate. Chandra Porter, Troy Henley, Jon King face the Irish National Debate team to large audience in the Chapel. The event is covered by the Seattle Times and the King County Journal. Photos.
 
Press coverage.
Eagle Debate is covered in the following publications:
The Seattle Times four times
The King County Journal twice
The Kirkland Currier three times
The Longview Daily News
The Kenai Peninsula News
The Seattle Irish Club Newsletter
IDEBATE, Journal of the International Debate Educational Association