The first weekend in March, the Barking Bulldogs Debate Team hosted its first debate tournament in 16 years. The Fresno State Debate Club — in conjunction with the Fresno State Barking Bulldogs Debate Team — hosted the prestigious Western JV and Novice Policy Debate Championship. Eighteen teams from across California, Utah, and Arizona attended this tournament.

The Barking Bulldogs Debate Team entered three teams in the tournament and had two teams in the elimination rounds. Nick Mirza and Aaron Lowe won five of their six preliminary rounds and advanced to the elimination rounds as the top seed in the novice division. They lost to Weber State University in the semifinal round and placed third in the tournament.

Jordan Cody and Dalton Scrivner also won five of their six preliminary rounds and advanced as the third seed to the elimination rounds. They lost the semifinal round to Fullerton College and placed fourth in the tournament.

Faris Elias and Vishal Boughen won three of their six preliminary rounds and came one win short of advancing to the elimination rounds.

The Barking Bulldogs swept the top three speaker awards in the novice division. Aaron Lowe received the first place, Nick Mirza received the second place, and Jordan Cody received the third place speaker awards in the novice division.

Primavera Martinez and Hunter Sansom, members of the varsity team, were instrumental in helping assistant coach, Quinten Levin, and director Tom Boroujeni, prepare our students for this tournament.

Barking Bulldogs debaters spend an average of nine hours every week preparing for tournaments. The results speak to their effort. Because of their dedication, Fresno State has become a national contender in debate.