Kansas City Kansas Community College

Just how good is this national championship debate dynasty that Coach Darren Elliott has built at Kansas City Kansas Community College?

So good that KCKCC had a record sixth straight CEDA (Cross Examination Debate Association) national championship all locked up before the final tournament in late March.

So good that it won an unprecedented sixth consecutive Phi Rho Pi Team Policy Debate national championship in Portland, Ore., despite the absence of an All-American.

So good that it had both finalists and three of the four semifinalists in winning a fifth straight Lincoln Douglas Policy Debate national title (the event was not held last year).

In addition, KCKCC claimed the Phi Rho Pi Gold in Overall Sweepstakes by virtual of its Gold in Debate Sweepstakes and a strong showing in forensics by Coach Amy Arellano’s first year team.

The success started in late March at Idaho State in Pocatello when KCKCC won its sixth straight McClintock Award presented annually to the national champion community college by CEDA. The CEDA national championship is based on the culmination of a team’s success over the course of the season in competition with predominantly four-year colleges and universities. Johnson County finished runnerup followed by Southwestern, East Los Angeles and Folsom Lake although KCKCC’s lead was such that the championship was assured before the final tournament.

Sophomores Noah Fugate of Tonganoxie and Miranda Nichols of Lansing led the way, earning Academic All-American awards based on cumulative GPA’s and CEDA All-American team designation – the only community college students named to the 30-member All-American team.

To complete the sweep of national titles, KCKCC had to repeat at Phi Rho Pi, a national tournament open strictly to two-year colleges, and they had to do it without one of their All-Americans, Miranda Nichols, who was sick and unable to compete in the Team Policy Debate. With Fugate left without a partner, the duo of sophomore Charlie Clark of Olathe North and freshman Mike Slinkard of Blue Springs South was left to carry the KCKCC banner.

“Fortunately, Hutchinson Community College had a student, Ryan McFarland, who was not competing in Team Policy who was willing to step in and team with Noah,” said Elliott. “The tournament had several instances of students coming down sick and getting new partners from other colleges.”

As fate would have it, the final round turned in to nearly an all-KCKCC showdown with Fugate and McFarland eking out a 2-1 victory over Slinkerd and Clark although all four were deemed 2009 champions.

The Lincoln Douglas final was an all-KCKCC final as Fugate and Slinkerd were paired in one semifinal and Clark defeated his opponent in the other semifinal and since teammates do not debate against each other, all three were awarded championship medals.

To complete KCKCC’s domination, Fugate received the Lynch-Grossman Award, an award determined by a vote of the students in the Phi Rho Pi national to honor the debater who they deemed to represent the best in competition and fellowship.

“This was a great year with a great balance of young, new talent and veteran sophomores like Noah Fugate who really stepped up and led the way,” said Elliott. With Fugate and Nichols the only certain losses, Elliott already has his sights set on seven in a row in 2010. “Next year’s recruiting class looks very impressive led by the Lansing duo of Kristyn Russell and Nick Novak. “We are very proud of Noah for winning this award in addition to two national championships this year,” said Elliott.