Glenville State University’s Pioneer Debate Team competed in the National Educational Debate Association’s (NEDA) “Fall Flyer Fling” at the University of Dayton November 15 – 16. The tournament featured more than 80 competitors from schools that included: Wayne State, University of Dayton, Ball State, Capital University, Slippery Rock University, Oberlin College, IMSA North, and Glenville State.
Pioneer Debate’s Alena Gray (Freshman Biology Major) and Graylin Floyd (Senior Psychology Major) placed 2nd in the highly competitive Crossfire Division. This was the second competitive tournament for Glenville, WV native Alena Gray. “The whole tournament was so much fun, but it wasn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination,” said Gray, adding “Our hard work paid off and it’s evident in our placing. I encourage anyone who has any amount of interest in debate to just try it.” Although the team of Gray and Floyd lost to Oberlin College in finals, they beat Oberlin College earlier in the tournament and finished with the better record of 8-1. Freshman Education Major, Johnathan Hornbuckle also traveled with the team and competed in six Novice Rapid-Fire debates. This was Hornbuckle’s first competitive tournament, but not his last having notched an impressive 26 out of 30-point scoring average in his debates for a 3-3 record.
Graylin Floyd, GSU Student Government Association Representative and mid-fielder for GSU soccer stunned the tournament with her 1st Place Speaker finish. “This tournament was not merely competitive, it was record-breaking competitive given the number of teams involved,” explained Pioneer Debate Director and Coach Dr. Brian Johnston: “I knew she was good. But I didn’t think anyone could do what she did in only her second tournament and against this caliber competition.” Floyd graduates from GSU in May 2025, and she is intent on concluding her undergraduate career as a Pioneer Debater this spring for the team’s last tournaments of the season: “I loved that Alena and I were able to showcase our potential,” said Floyd: “To say the least, I am super proud of our team. This tournament showed us that we are very capable of debating against tough competition.”
Earlier in the month, Glenville State University’s Pioneer Debate Team competed in the National Educational Debate Association’s (NEDA) Fall Online Tournament. The tournament featured 47-competitors from 6-universities, including: Penn State, Grove City College, University of Dayton, Wayne State, Oberlin, and GSU. Pioneer Debate’s two teams competed in the Novice Rapid-fire division. Graylin Floyd notched an impressive fourth place team finish with a record of 3-1. Alena Gray tied for fifth in overall individual points. This was the first debate for Floyd, who also competes for GSU’s soccer team: “My first experience debating was exciting. For the first time in my life, I got to argue with someone in a situation where no one for the most part, was mad at me!” Gray, also competing in her first tournament, emphasized the spirit of healthy competition: “Not only did I learn how important it is to deliver your best facts, but also, at the end of your match when you and your opponent are just two people and not competitors anymore, how fun it is to hear feedback and agree on what a good match it had been.”
Pioneer Debate hosts the NEDA National Championship Tournament April 4-5 during the spring 2025 semester. “Last year’s hosting of our first tournament at GSU’s campus was the most meaningful professional experience of my career,” said Johnston. “We don’t have the resources that the bigger schools, like Penn State and Wayne State have, but we have something they don’t have: Pioneer Pride.” Johnston, in his third year as Assistant Professor of Communication at GSU, explains he witnessed Pioneer Pride when faculty, staff, students, and City of Glenville community members volunteered their time to serve where needed to organize and produce the event. “We need your help again, for our second annual Pioneer Holler Debate Tournament,” said Johnston, adding, “Let’s go.”
Dr. Brian Johnston (Department of Language and Literature) and Dr. Josh Squires (Political Science) coach GSU’s first debate team in 25 years. Pioneer Debate seeks funding to support travel to competitive debate tournaments. Contact GSU VP of Advancement David Hutchinson by email (David.Hutchison@glenville.edu) or phone (304-462-6381) to support Pioneer Debate.
PIONEER DEBATE is a co-curricular competitive debate team in the Department of Language and Literature at Glenville State University. Students develop professional skills in critical thinking, civil listening, argumentation, and creative problem-solving through weekly meetings, competitive debates, and campus events. Participation in Pioneer Debate is open to all GSU students.
NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL DEBATE ASSOCIATION is an academic debate circuit serving the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.
