Mercer Debate

“Freshman Niyati Patel, an international affairs and Spanish double-major from Warner Robins, and sophomore Chirayu Salgarkar, a biomedical engineering and mathematics double-major from Lawrenceville, won the novice division at this year’s NPDA championship, held virtually March 25-27.

Patel earned the Dan Henning Award for top novice speaker, continuing an unprecedented run for the University’s debate program by following fellow Mercerians Matt Thompson, Cam Wade and Yasmeen Hill in winning the award over the past four years.”

Freshman Niyati Patel wins Mercer’s fourth consecutive top novice speaker award at NPDA nationals Senior Cam Wade Named to NPDA All-American Team MACON – Mercer University’s debate team for the fourth consecutive year has the top novice speaker in the National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA). Niyati Patel Freshman Niyati Patel, an international affairs and Spanish double-major from ...

Final results, including sweepstakes, from Mercer University’s 2022 NPDA run. 🏆🧡🐻🖤

Varsity Results: Mercer Senior Cameron Wade advanced to the quarterfinal round of NPDA Nats 2022 with partner SDSU’s Marnon Navarro. Cam was fifth place speaker in the nation, and was one of just five seniors nationwide named to the 2022 NPDA All-American team. This special recognition is a fitting way to cap off an incredible year and an incredible career in intercollegiate debate. We are so proud to congratulate Cam on an extraordinary final nationals run. 🥳🧡🐻

Correction 3/31/22: Mercer PS won novice finals on a 2-1 decision.

Novice Results: Mercer Debate’s novice team consisting of Niyati Patel and Chirayu Salgarkar advanced to novice finals, where they dropped on a close 2-1 decision. Chirayu was 4th place novice speaker and Niyati was 1st. Congratulations to our stellar first year team! 🧡🐻

That just-found-out-you’re-the-novice-top-speaker feeling. Mercer Debate congratulates Niyati Patel, our 2022 NPDA Nationals Novice Top Speaker.

Day 3 of NPDA Nats and Mercer PS will debate in the novice elim bracket starting with a semifinal at 1:20. Team captain Cam Wade walked through double octos last night, cleared octs on a 3-0 decision, and will debate in the varsity quarterfinal at 1:20 with hybrid partner SDSU’s Marnon Navarro. Good luck today to these outstanding debaters!

Cam Wade, Niyati Patel and Chirayu Salgarkar are representing Mercer Debate this weekend in the NPDA National Championships. Good luck to our debaters as you tackle this grueling weekend - you make us proud. 🧡🐻

"Wade and Patel, a first-year debater who was competing in only her fourth tournament ever, became the first Mercer team to advance through the preliminary round of the tournament. They finished the round robin in fourth place with a winning record of 8-7 over the two days of competition."

Mercer debaters succeed at two tournaments in one weekend Chirayu Salgarkar MACON – Mercer University’s debate team competed in two tournaments representing two different formats of debate this past weekend, earning honors in both the Georgia Parliamentary Debate Association (GPDA) State Championship and the National Round Robin. The GPDA championship...

"Wade, a senior double-majoring in women’s and gender studies and English, competed in the tournament as a “maverick,” debating without a partner and delivering an unmatched 24 speeches over the two days of the tournament, which included debaters representing 11 institutions from seven different states. Competing alone against teams of two opposing debaters, Wade cleared the five preliminary rounds with a perfect 5-0 record, advanced to the finals and was named the tournament’s top individual speaker."

Debater Cam Wade named top speaker at Mile High Swing MACON – Mercer University debater Cam Wade was named top speaker at the 16th annual Mile High Swing, traditionally the nation’s largest parliamentary debate competition outside of nationals, hosted virtually Jan. 8-9 by the University of Texas at Tyler. Cam Wade Wade, a senior double-majoring i...

Mercer Debate celebrates senior Cam Wade for clearing prelims this weekend with a perfect 5-0 record, winning Top Speaker, and advancing to the final round before dropping to Oregon on a close 2-1 decision. As a maverick, Cam delivered 24 speeches over the course of two days and fought hard to bring home the Top Speaker title. Congratulations Cam and Go Bears!