photo by: Contributed photo

KU debate team Jacob Hegna, left, and Nate Martin reached the Final Four of the National Debate Tournament held March 21-25, 2019, at the University of Minnesota. The team was knocked out in the national semifinal by a team from the University of Kentucky.

The University of Kansas basketball team may not have made it, but another team of Jayhawks advanced to the Final Four this year.

A KU debate team of Jacob Hegna, a senior from Overland Park, and Nate Martin, a sophomore from Lansing, advanced to the Final Four at the 73rd National Debate Tournament held earlier this week at the University of Minnesota, according to a KU news release.

Hegna and Martin lost in the semifinal round against a team from the University of Kentucky, which went on to win the national title.

To reach the Final Four, KU debate qualified three teams in the 78-team tournament. Hegna and Martin, who were ranked No. 12 nationally, defeated a team from the University of Oklahoma in the Sweet 16 and a team from the University of Georgia in the Elite Eight to qualify for the Final Four.

This year’s Final Four appearance is the 17th time a KU debate team reached the milestone since the tournament began in 1947, according to the university. It’s also the third time a KU team reached the Final Four since 2016. KU won the national championship in 2018 and was national runner-up in 2016.

Although the team did not win the title, it didn’t leave empty-handed. Hegna finished in first place as the individual speaker of the tournament. He is the first KU student to win the award since 1955.

“We are very proud of the incredible performance of the debaters and the hard work of the assistant coaches and alumni who helped make this success possible,” said Brett Bricker, head coach for the team.