The William Pitt Debating Union (WPDU) kept the momentum blazing last weekend, earning multiple titles at the DeMouget Debates hosted online by the University of North Texas. The team continued its early season surge, taking home top awards and division championships for the 4th tournament in a row.
Freshman Santino Balisteri led the charge, claiming both the JV Championship and the Top JV Speaker award. Sophomore Aidan Watkins brought home the Novice Championship, while also advancing to the JV Quarterfinals and earning recognition as the 6th Top JV Speaker. In the Varsity division, the tournament’s most competitive level, freshman McKinley Cherrier earned 9th top Varsity speaker and finished with a 2–3 record, a strong showing against some of the most experienced debaters in the nation.
These results reinforce a defining trend for the season: WPDU competitors have claimed top speaker awards at every tournament so far, in both speech and debate. The DeMouget Debates mark yet another weekend where the Panthers combined individual experience with a growing team culture of discipline, confidence, and competitive spirit.
With several tournaments still to come this semester, WPDU’s energy shows no signs of cooling off. Every round adds to a growing reputation for analysis, creativity, and collaboration, highlighting the WPDU’s national presence.