Wichita State University seniors Brian Box and Matt Munday have completed the most successful season for WSU Debate since 1968.

They competed at the National Debate Tournament March 29-April 2 at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. The top 78 two-person teams compete at the tournament.

The Wichita State team made it to the Elite 8, before losing to Gonzaga. They had a preliminary round record of 5-3 and were the 29th seed. They upset Georgetown in the round of 32 and beat the University of Georgia in the Sweet 16.

The quarterfinals appearance was the first time WSU has made it to the last day of competition since 1968 and only the second time to qualify for the elimination debates since that time.

A week earlier Box teamed with Creighton Coleman to advance to the Sweet 16 at the National Championship Tournament of the Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA). Box was the top speaker at the tournament. Coleman was 18th.

Box and Munday were named to CEDA’s All-American debate team (top 30 individual debaters).

Several students also qualified for the National Debate Scholars.

Munday received a summa cum laude recognition (3.75 or higher GPA). Debate team member Olivia Sullivan received a magna cum laude recognition (3.5 or higher GPA). Coleman received a cum laude recognition (3.25 or higher GPA). And Box received honorable mention (3.0 or higher GPA).