ISU Rupp Debate Team Brings Home Silver Sweepstakes at Season - Opener Tournament

The Idaho State University Rupp Debate Team launched its 2026–2027 competitive season with a stellar performance at the College of Southern Idaho tournament, Fran Tanner, held Friday, September 25, through Saturday, September 26.

Competing against a formidable slate of regional programs—including Boise State University, Weber State University, the University of Idaho, and the University of Utah—ISU’s two-person roster secured high individual honors and brought home a Silver Sweepstakes team trophy, awarded to schools earning the highest cumulative points across all speech and debate events. The sweepstakes award measured squad efficiency or overall performance for each of the debaters in comparison to debaters from other teams. Our second place finish ranked our small team ahead of several other teams fielding numerous competitors.

• Alex Kuyper (gunior, Pocatello), delivered a marathon performance across both speech and debate events. Keypur claimed a Gold Medal in Extemporaneous Speaking and competed in Impromptu, Informative, and IPDA Debate. On Saturday, Kuyper battled through a full day of open-division debate, securing 13th place overall in Open IPDA.
• Isaac Brambila (senior, Idaho Falls), represented ISU in individual speech categories, competing in After Dinner Speaking, Program Oral Interpretation (POI), and Poetry. Brambila earned a Bronze Medal for his moving Poetry performance centered on the theme of fatherly love.
• Lazarus Clark (senior, Pocatello), traveled with the team.

The team’s successful outing was backed by the coaching and leadership staff, working in collaboration to ensure a successful weekend:

• Dr. Sarah Partlow-Lefevre, director of the Rupp Debate Team, managed on-site tournament logistics, administrative operations, strategic coaching, and student support.
• Dr. Heather Gilmore, assistant coach, led morning warm-ups and kept competitors focused, calm, structured through demanding tournament schedules, and judged IPDA debate rounds.
• Jack Quigley, assistant coach, managed student preparation, judged speech rounds, and coordinated tournament logistics while mentoring student-competitors.
• Chelsea Blanchard, graduate research assistant, served as a judge across both speech and debate rounds, providing vital mentorship and leadership to the roster.

Building on the momentum of their season-opening sweepstakes finish, the ISU Rupp Debate Team turns its focus to Portland, Oregon. The squad will next compete at the Steve Hunt Classic on the Lewis & Clark College campus from October 9–11, 2026.