Rutgers Breaks at GW and PC, Maingi Qualifies for Nationals

The Rutgers contingent and friends after Quinn Maingi qualified for Nationals with a 6th place finish at George Washington University. Left to right: Dan Cobos [GW Tournament Director], Sean Leonard, Luana Wang [UAlbany], Suraj Oza, Alex Jubb, Zach Sinkiewicz, Rachel Moon, Adam Bomeisl, Arbi Llaveshi, Victoria Disla, Quinn Maingi, Storey Clayton, Josh Pomerantz, and Henry Phipps.

The Rutgers University Debate Union (RUDU) held steady at 5th in the nation after making the quarterfinals at both American Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA) tournaments this weekend. Quinn Maingi & Sean Leonard finished 6th at George Washington University to qualify Maingi for Nationals for the third year in a row. The junior is the fourth RUDU debater to clinch a spot at the prestigious season-ending Championships, joining senior Ashley Novak (qualifying all four years), junior Russell Potter (second qualification), and sophomore Leonard (second qualification). Last year, Rutgers qualified a team-record seven debaters for Nationals.

Meanwhile, at Providence College, Ashley Novak also earned sixth team honors to go with fifth overall speaker at the tournament to maintain her personal ranking as the 8th individual speaker on APDA. Novices Nick Hansen and Vidhaath Sripathi also earned points for the Novice of the Year (NOTY) rankings with top-seven finishes.

Here are the official awards earned by Rutgers at each tournament:

GW
Quinn Maingi & Sean Leonard – 6th Team
Josh Pomerantz & Zach Schaub [Pittsburgh] – 3rd Novice Team [dropping in finals]

PC
Ashley Novak & Maddie Powell [Boston] – 6th Team
Ashley Novak – 5th Speaker
Nick Hansen – 3rd Novice Speaker
Vidhaath Sripathi – 7th Novice Speaker

Pomerantz’s run to novice finals with his hybrid partner came in just his second tournament ever for RUDU after he competed at Columbia’s tournament in September. A novice team broke to varsity out-rounds, making the final a clash for 2nd place, but the entire RUDU contingent attended and some even offered floor speeches for the Rutgers/Pittsburgh pair.

Meanwhile, both Arbi Llaveshi & Adam Bomeisl and George Alukal & Vidhaath Sripathi narrowly missed the elimination rounds, each dropping “bubble” rounds whose victory would have placed them in the break at GW and PC, respectively. For the latter pair, it would have been their first individual break and the former, a qualification for Nationals for one or both. But with a dynamic start to a new semester, most of these accomplishments seem assured for future tournaments.

The APDA season continues for RUDU this weekend at local neighbor The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). Rutgers will be sending one of its largest contingents of the year.

The Rutgers contingent at Providence College is all smiles after winning records for all participants. Left to right: Ashley Novak, Nick Hansen, Russell Potter, George Alukal, and Vidhaath Sripathi. (Not pictured: Stine-Oksana Soomai)