The Wichita State University debate teams of Eric Robinson and Matt Coleman, and Patrick Rinker and Brian Box, have earned coveted invitations to the 2009 National Debate Tournament (NDT) being held March 26-30 at the University of Texas.

It has been about 10 years since WSU has qualified two teams to the national tournament, and it’s only the third time in more than 60 years.

Only 78 teams – 10 percent of all the teams that debate across the country – are invited to the prestigious tournament.

Senior Matt Coleman will make his fourth appearance at the tournament.

Only a few students from across the country attend the NDT four times, and Coleman will join an elite company of college debaters who have accomplished this feat.

Coleman and Robinson’s current debate record is 53-12, an 81 percent winning record.

Rinker and Box posted a 6-2 record at the district qualifying tournament to earn their spot.