The Wichita State University student debate team of Matt Coleman and Eric Robinson earned an automatic bid to the 2008 National Championship Tournament of the Cross Examination Debate Association during a competition held in late February.

Coleman has become only the second WSU debater in the past 30 years to qualify three times to the national debate tournament, scheduled for March 21-24 at WSU.

With six wins and two losses, the team claimed the 5th seed. In addition, Coleman was named the 5th speaker – out of nearly 50 – at the tournament.

The WSU team of Patrick Rinker and Zach Brown also competed at the competition. With only three wins, the team did not earn an automatic bid to nationals. But they have an overall winning percentage high enough to merit consideration for an at-large bid. That announcement will be made in two weeks.

WSU earned its third straight bid to the national tournament and second consecutive bid through the district tournament.