Samford debate is winning again, and building a team to match.
Junior Elise Eichholtz and her debate partner, Maggi Kimbrell, won the novice division at a University of Kentucky debate tournament in late September. It was Eichholtz’s first time competing in person.
The pair went 5-1 in preliminary rounds, earned a bye through octofinals and won the quarterfinal, semifinal and final rounds.
The win is the latest sign of new life for Samford University debate. The program marked its 187th year in 2024 but, two seasons ago, was left with almost no one on its roster.
‘Kate was the debate team’
Junior Kate Alexander joined the team as a freshman without knowing what policy debate was. That spring, the coach left, and most of the experienced debaters were seniors. Mike Janas, who directed the program in the 1990s, stepped in as interim director.
“At one point, we didn’t even have a coach, and Kate was the debate team,” Eichholtz said. “She was the only thing keeping it alive.”
Alexander does not take credit for a rebuild.
“It was all really a lot of chance,” she said.
Derek Hilligoss was hired as director of debate in August 2025. That season, Alexander and then-senior Sarah Setzler qualified for the 80th National Debate Tournament in Houston. They were one of only 78 teams to earn bids, and both had started college debate with no high school experience.
A team again
This fall, Samford has debaters in the novice, junior varsity and open divisions.
Eichholtz, Alexander’s roommate and fellow Knoxville, Tennessee, resident, joined this year at Alexander’s urging.
“My family’s always been like, ‘Elise, you love arguing. You should do debate,’” Eichholtz said.
She called Alexander “the captain, basically.” She also praised Hilligoss, who is leading the program well.
“He’s more there to answer our questions and help us think for ourselves,” Eichholtz said.
Alexander compared debate trips to “going into Narnia together.” Teammates return to campus sharing jokes and jargon no one else understands.
Next up: Wake Forest
The team’s next major goal is the fall championship hosted by Wake Forest University in November, known to debaters as “the Shirley.” Alexander said Samford expects to send a team in each division.
For now, she wants the novices’ win celebrated.
“They’ve worked so hard,” she said. “I’m just so proud of them both.”
Want to debate?
No experience is required. Alexander, Setzler and Eichholtz all started with none.
“If you are looking for a community or even just a skill set, and you just want to have some fun and some weird stories coming from it, you should totally come check out debate,” Alexander said.
Follow Samford Debate on Instagram at @Sudebate or contact director of debate Derek Hilligoss to learn more.
Staff Reporter
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