Tradition and History

The Jesuit Debate Team celebrates over 75 years of excellence and awards a varsity letter for TFA State Qualification.

Success at the National Level
Success at TFA State Championships

Success at the National Level

CHAMPIONSHIPS

National Debate Coaches Association National Varsity Championships (3^rd in 2007; 5^th in 2015 & 2011)
National Debate Coaches Association National Novice Championships (1st in 2022)
Novice Nationals at Woodward Academy in Atlanta (9^th in 2017, 2016)
Second Year Nationals at Woodward Academy in Atlanta (2^nd in 2005)

competitions

These competitions, while many are held in the DFW area, draw schools across the country. Jesuit Dallas placed within the top 10 at the following competitions:

Grapevine High School
Greenhill School
New Trier High School (Illinois)
St. Mark’s School of Texas
University of Southern California/Notre Dame HS
The Glenbrooks (Illinois)
University of Texas
Redlands University (California)
Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville)
University of Houston
Lexington Massachusetts
Colleyville Heritage High School
Emory University (Atlanta)
University of California at Berkeley

Success at TFA State Championships

Texas Forensics Association State Debate Champions
2011, 2010 (closeout), 2002, 2000, and 1979

Texas Forensic Association State Debate Finalists
(Second Place) in 2007 and 2001

Texas Forensic Association State Debate Semifinalist
2020, 2016, 2007, 2005 (2 teams), and 1998

Texas Forensic Association State Quarterfinalist
2019 (2 teams), 2017 (2 teams), 2008 (2 teams), 2006, 2003, and 2001

State Tournament Hall of Fame
Qualifying for the TFA State tournament is an accomplishment on its own... qualifying for the elimination rounds reflects a unique achievement for debaters. Jesuit debaters listed below not only qualified multiple times for state but also accomplished the unusual multiyear appearance in the elimination rounds.

3 Time Elimination

Anthony Jardina ’02—1^st, 5^th, 9^th
Ryan Stevens ’07—3^rd, 5^th, 9^th
Sean O’Brien ’08—3^rd, 5^th, 9^th
Rich Graham ’08—5^th, 9^th, 9^th
Jack Moore ’19—5^th, 9^th, 9^th
Jack Griffiths ’19—5^th, 9^th, 17^th
Riler Holcombe ’19—5^th, 9^th, 17^th
Jackson Pyke ’14—17^th, 17^th, 17^th

State Tournament Hall of Fame 1998-Present

3 Time Elims

2 Time Elims

Ryan Gorman ’11—1^st closeout, 1^st
Sullivan McCormick ’11—1^st closeout, 1^st
Sam Ackels ’03—1^st, 5^th
Carson Young ’10—1^st closeout, 9^th
John Hill ’08—2^nd, 9^th
Emmanuel Ruiz ’17—3^rd, 5^th
Patrick Bender ’16—3^rd, 9^th
Cameron O’Bannon ’05—3^rd, 9^th
Trevor Howell ’05—3^rd, 9^th
Jonathan Powell ’01—5^th, 9^th
Charlie Minato ’09—5^th, 9^th
Mark Offenbach ’07—5^th, 17^th
Bradley Craig ’09—5^th, 17^th
Matthew Schuster ’05—9^th, 17^th
Michael Piellucci ’05—9^th, 17^th
Derek Liles ’07—9^th, 17^th
Gabriel Nunez-LaFontaine ’08—9^th, 17^th
Adam Wiechman ’15—9^th, 17^th
Jake LoRocco ’17—9^th, 17^th
Chris Tran ’19—9^th, 17^th
Christian Calilung ’07—17^th, 17^th
Tanner Davis ’13—17^th, 17^th
Ben Miller ’18—17^th, 17^th
Gio Ferrer-Falto ’19—17^th, 17^th
Ethan Jackson ’19—17^th, 17^th

1 Time Elim

Tom Keane ’00—1^st
Ian Holmes ’00—1^st
Joel Diamond ’10—1^st closeout
Edward Ackels ’01—2^nd
Ben Bireley ’01—2^nd
Michael Haskins ’07—2^nd
Steve Kovatis ’98—3^rd
Matt Connolly ’98—3^rd
Robert Foltz ’03—5^th
Beomhak Lee ’17—5^th
Alandro Valdez ’17—5^th
Zach Watts ’17—5^th
Jason Martin ’05—9^th
Chandler Dawson ’15—9^th
Bennett Harrison ’15—9^th
Praneeth Kalva ’16—9^th
Ethan Tsao ’16—9^th
Ashik Amar ’19—9^th
Logan Kim ’19—9^th

Gold Medal Debates

THE PHILP CITATION CUP
GOLD MEDAL DEBATES PLAQUE (NO OTHER INSCRIPTION)

THE PHILP CITATION CUP

Presented by Lt. Col Wm. H. Philp, USA for permanent record of the winning teams in the annual Jesuit High School Debate

1944

Cletus Brady and Jack Stanton

1945

Stanley Redmond and Joseph Canty

1946

Joe Leverette and Jack Burney

1947

David Knight and James Cale

1948

James Cale and James McGaffrey

1949

Albert Collins and Neil O'Brien

1950

John Keehan and Philip Hanley

1951

Joseph Pangle and William Williams

1952

Patrick McDowell and Patrick Reames

1953

Joseph Kocks and Milam Joseph

1954

Jerry Fagin and T. Fuechtmann

1955

William Hodges and Claiborne Johnson

1956

William Hodges and John Brough

1957

John Johnson and Patrick McGowan

1958

Patrick McGowan and James Miller

GOLD MEDAL DEBATES PLAQUE (NO OTHER INSCRIPTION)

1959

John Brough and John Johnson

1960

Edward Carriere and Harry Salis

1961

Kent Luecking and Harry Womackv

1962

Richard Hughes and James Turner

1963

Richard Atkinson and James Turner

1964

Irwin Sentilles and James Turner

1965

Patrick Coerver and Irwin Sentilles

1966

Michael McKool and Anthony Iwanski

1967

Larry Ackels and Michael McKool

1968

Larry Ackels and Mike Fernandez

1969

Gary Keane and Bruce Thompson

1970

Paul Clote and Terry Kee

1971

Ken Petersen and Terry Kee

1972

Erin Dwyer and Tom Garvin

1973

Erin Dwyer and Randy Kucera

1974

Mike Ackels and Ken Hafiertepe

1975

Joe Ackels and Randy Kucera

1976

vEmery Shannon and Chuck Winikates

1977

Jay Liese and Jim Plummer

1978

Greg Ackels and Jeff Tillotson

1979

Greg Ackels and Jeff Tillotson

1980

Webb Millsaps and Jeff Tillotson