Debate team called No. 1 in the nation

Kansas University’s debate team ended the semester ranked No. 1 in the nation in the National Debate Tournament rankings for varsity teams, KU announced Tuesday.

The National Debate Tournament ranks teams in April and December of each year based on points earned by teams in a variety of tournaments. Varsity rankings are based on the top two senior division teams from a school’s performance in eight tournaments.

KU ranks ahead of the University of Georgia, Wayne State University, Oklahoma University and Emory University in the varsity rankings, which include 102 university debate teams.

In the overall rankings, KU ranked No. 4 out of 113 National Debate Tournament schools. Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va., was ranked first. Overall rankings are based on the top two teams from a school at eight tournaments.