Pictured: Eva Reese
A Troy University student has won first place at the Sunshine State Debate Tournament, marking the Trojan Debate Club's second win this season.
Eva Reese, a senior double majoring in English and psychology from Houston, Texas, is president of the club. Reese remained undefeated, winning every ballot of the six rounds she competed in.
“The first thing I did was run to my coach and tell him I won. Then, I called my dad to share the moment with him,” said Reese. “My dad used to be into debate when he was in high school, so we have shared a bond over that ever since I joined Trojan Debate.”
The tournament was held online by the University of Central Florida, and 12universities attended, ranging from Florida to Iowa. The event spanned over two days.
Reese won the Novice Division of the tournament, which is meant for first-time competitors of the Sunshine State Series. This was the first time Reese had made it past preliminaries in a tournament, an achievement she is quite proud of.
"Before the first round, Eva told me she wasn't sure she was cut out for competitive debate,” said Professor Michael Gray, the Trojan Debate faculty advisor. “Then she went and won the whole thing.
“Let her be an example to all students: don't give up. Eva is intelligent, but that's not why she won. She is charismatic, but that's not why she won. She won through perseverance, commitment, and tenacity."
Reese advises everyone to trust the process, even when you think that you may not be cut out for it.
“You must trust the process,” said Reese. “Go to the practices, do the reps, listen to your coach, trust yourself and eventually you'll be where you need to be.”
Competitors were judged based on the delivery of their speech and the coherence of their arguments. Categories for the competition included limited preparation, public address and interpretation of literature.
For Reese, debate has been a beneficial contributor to her aspirations. She plans to attend law school after her graduation, something that requires sharp argumentative and persuasive skills.
“I tried debate so I could become a better orator on the fly under constraints,” Reese said. “Through debate, I learned to be a more confident speaker in such tough and frustrating situations and deliver a message of impact.
“It’s made me a better thinker, it’s made me more adaptable, and I am far better for it.”
This follows the debate team’s November 2024 win in the University of West Florida Sunshine State Series tournament. In that tournament, Reese placed fifth, while the university placed first overall.
The university’s debate team meets in Wallace 107 every Monday and Tuesday at 5 p.m..
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