Northwestern Debate

Official 𝕏 of the Northwestern Debate Society. Check in for tournament results and other news.

[Northwestern Debate @NUDebate]

Northwestern competed at the 80th National Debate Tournament, marking the second consecutive year the Wildcats cleared three teams at the NDT!

Big thanks to @HoustonDebate for hosting! #GoCats 💜

[Northwestern Debate @NUDebate]

NP competed at the 2026 Cross-Examination Debate Association’s National Championship.

Lucia & Maryclare were the 2nd seed and made it to Quarters! They were 10th and 20th speaker respectively 🏆

Thanks to @BingDebate for the absolutely amazing hospitality! #GoCats 💜

[Northwestern Debate @NUDebate]

NU LR reached NDT Doubles as the 9th seed and ranked the 6th team in the country! Veronica was 14th speaker.

Veronica wraps up her career as a 3x NDT participant. Her commitment to high quality research and good spirited approach has been vital to NU Debate for 4 years 🐐🏆💜

[Northwestern Debate @NUDebate]

NU PS reached NDT Doubles with a 5-3 record.

PS was ranked the 14th team in the country.

Pacconi is a graduating senior who has completed an excellent career! He is an incredible debater and we are proud of his contributions NU debate! #GoCats 💜🐐

[Northwestern Debate @NUDebate]

NU AT reached NDT Doubles with a 5-3 record.

This was the second NDT for Buck while Ahsan made his debut. 💜⚡️ #GoCats

[Northwestern Debate @NUDebate]

NU Debate competed at the American Debate Association National Tournament hosted by Emory University.

🔥 Veronica & Mike reached quarters
🔥 Buck & Ahsan reached octos
🔥 Michael & Samuel reached doubles

Veronica was 15th speaker; Mike was 16th.

Next up, the 80th NDT! 😼

[Northwestern Debate @NUDebate]

We want to recognize Michael Lee ‘26, who debated the final round of his career with Samuel Weisz ’29.

He worked his way up from JV to making multiple elimination-round appearances. A true all-around NU debate GOAT. Congrats, Michael! 🎉 🐐

[Northwestern Debate @NUDebate]

Congratulations to Buck Arney & Ahsan Tahirkheli for receiving a Second Round At-Large bid to the 80th National Debate Tournament! This honor is reserved for just six third teams nationwide to compete at the NDT. Go ‘Cats! 😼🤾🏼‍♂️

[Northwestern Debate @NUDebate]

Congratulations to Northwestern LR (Mike Li & Veronica Rubin) and Northwestern PS (Jack Pacconi & Antonio Souchet) on earning First Round At-Large bids to the 80th National Debate Tournament!! This is an honor reserved for the top 16 teams in the country!!

Go ‘Cats! 💜😸

[Northwestern Debate @NUDebate]

At the 2026 Texas Open, we had 8 teams compete:

🏆 PS reached Octos
🏆 LR & AP reached Doubles

�� Lucia was 12th speaker
🦆 Antonio was 16th speaker

Thank you to our friends @utdebate for hosting! 💜

[Northwestern Debate @NUDebate]

The 2026 Dartmouth Round Robin is in full swing! Mike & Veronica will be representing Northwestern this weekend in Hanover. Go ‘Cats! 💜

[Northwestern Debate @NUDebate]

We got our debate WIIINGS from @redbull to get us through the weekend! 🔥🪽

[Northwestern Debate @NUDebate]

NU Debate kicked off 2026 virtually at the Georgetown Tournament! 👨‍💻

Veronica (7th Speaker) & Mike (12th Speaker) along with Antonio & Jack reached Octos. Maryclare & Lucia and Buck & Ahsan reached Doubles. All nine NU teams notched impressive wins and close elim decisions! 😼💜

[Northwestern Debate @NUDebate]

Some of us got into our costumes for Halloween—some say costume, we say “Hey Siri, play Bags by Clairo” while sipping on matcha.

[Northwestern Debate @NUDebate]

Northwestern Debate had a strong weekend at Gonzaga! 😼
🎃 Li/Rubin listened to Clairo on the way to quarterfinals
🎃 Arney/Tahirkheli matcha’d to octas
🎃 Nestor/Patterson 6-7’d their way to the doubles

Mike earned 20th speaker, and Veronica was 6th overall! #GoCats #feminists

[Northwestern Debate @NUDebate]

Congrats to @michigandebate’s Michigan BP on a fantastic finals debate and for being the champions of the 2025 OLC! Thank you for the great round! 💫Huge thanks to our amazing all-@emorydebate panel! #OLC2025

[Northwestern Debate @NUDebate]

Northwestern Debate crushed it at the 2025 OLC! 🎉
🏆 Mike Li & Veronica Rubin - FINALS
💥 Jack Pacconi & Antonio Souchet (18th Speaker) - QTRS
🔥 Buck Arney & Ahsan Tahirkheli - DBLS
✨ Annabeth Lundberg & Sophie Leonard - had strong wins!
Great to host everyone in Evanston!

[Northwestern Debate @NUDebate]

Debaters, coaches, judges at the 2025 OLC - help yourself to some WIIINGS at Tech! Thank you @redbull for supplying the energy! ⚡️🏃‍♂️🪽😸 #OLC2025 Go Debate! 💜

[Northwestern Debate @NUDebate]

WE ARE LIVE! Day 1 of the OLC! ☀️ High of 66° and sunny skies to start the season. PAIRINGS ARE OUT! 💜 #OLC2025

[Northwestern Debate @NUDebate]

We’re just TWO days away from welcoming 400+ debaters, coaches & judges to the Owen L. Coon Memorial Debates at Northwestern! NU Debate is thrilled to host the season opener to kick off this year’s topic: Labor! Go Debate and Go ’Cats! 💜😸