Founded in 1972, the Tournament of Champions is “America’s foremost debate competition.” Sponsored by the University of Kentucky’s Student Forum and Henry Clay Debate Council, the TOC is held each Spring to crown the nation’s top Policy, Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, and Student Congress debaters. Students must qualify to attend the TOC by clearing to the appropriate elimination rounds of various invitational tournaments during the season and doing so is one of the most impressive accomplishments of any high school debater.
The Hilltoppers closed-out the final round of the inaugural TOC in 1972 and have since had two teams reach the finals. Marquette remains the only school to ever close-out the TOC.
Elimination Round Participants at the TOC
Speaker Awards at the TOC
Marquette has qualified dozens of debaters to the Tournament of Champions over the years including four consecutive Policy Debate teams between 1998-1999 and 2001-2002. In the final season of that impressive streak, Manav Bhatnagar was named the recipient of the prestigious Julia Burke Flame for Character and Excellence in National High School Policy Debate.
Policy Debate Qualifiers for the TOC
Lincoln-Douglas Debate Qualifiers for the TOC