The Wichita State University student debate team of Matt Coleman and Eric Robinson took first place in the open division at its first tournament of the semester Sept. 20-21.

Three teams traveled to the University of Northern Iowa to compete, and Coleman and Robinson went undefeated in eight rounds of preliminary debate. They didn't lose a single ballot in the elimination rounds.

The pair defeated the University of Kansas in the finals, the University of Minnesota in the semifinals, and Concordia College in the quarterfinals. Coleman finished first and Robinson finished sixth out of almost 50 debaters.

Patrick Rinker and Brian Box qualified for the elimination rounds with a 5-3 preliminary record, defeating Concordia College in the 16th round and losing to the University of Texas at San Antonio in the quarterfinals.

First-year debaters Matt Munday and Creighton Coleman also competed in the open division and earned three wins at their first college tournament.

The debate topic was the reform of agricultural subsidies in the U.S. WSU's debate team is led by Jeffrey Jarman, director of speech and debate and associate director of the Elliott School of Communication.

The WSU team is set to host the Moorhouse Debate Tournament on campus Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 27-28, and Monday, Sept. 29 at the Best Western Wichita North before traveling to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the following weekend.