Marquette makes Quarterfinals at St. Mark’s; Earns Bid to TOC
October 20, 2008 – 9:34 am by: Jon VossThis weekend, the Marquette University Hilltoppers enjoyed tremendous success at the St. Mark’s tournament in Dallas, TX. MUHS’ varsity pair of Joe Balistreri and Ben Benson achieved a 4-2 preliminary record.
In doing so, they knocked off difficult foes from Montgomery Bell Academy, Glenbrook South, and Ashland High School. In their double-finals debate, Ben & Joe defeated a tough team from Notre Dame Academy, and as Saturday drew to a close, three judges concurred that capitalism was an undesirable economic framework, thus advancing Marquette over the Kinkaid School and propelling the Hilltoppers into the quarterfinals. BB was eventually defeated by the Bronx HS of Science in the quarterfinal round, but obtained the first of two necessary bids to the national TOC by winning the double-octafinal debate.
Sheboygan North’s senior-senior duo of Tim Knoedler and Laurel Mills also advanced to the elimination rounds at St. Mark’s. Debating as the tournament’s 32nd seed, KM bowed out after a tough loss to Pace Academy.
Not to be outdone by the upperclass-people, MUHS’ sophomore-sophomore pair of Michael Hoffman and Jack Mackay performed admirably in the annual Sophomore Hoe Down (a round-robin for sophomores hosted by St. Mark’s). After winning 8 of 10 preliminary ballots, HM won its quarter-final debate against Oak Park River Forest (Chicago, IL) before bowing out to Glenbrook North in semi-finals. Michael was also the round robin’s top speaker. Marquette is coached by Bill Batterman.