MBA Debate opened the new year with an impressive victory on its home turf. Hosting 66 teams from 22 states and Taipei, including 14 of the nation’s top 15 ranked teams, MBA welcomed elite competition to campus for the 44th annual Billy S. Tate Southern Bell Forum.

The Big Red’s top duo, Russell Howard and Jimmy Li, captured first place, while two additional MBA teams advanced to elimination rounds. Howard and Li reached Monday’s finals without dropping a single ballot in the final three rounds. Individually, Howard finished fourth overall in the tournament, with Li close behind in seventh.

Two other Big Red pairs also delivered strong performances. Res Seibels and Oliver Johnston advanced to the Sweet Sixteen with a 5–1 record, while Fox Travis and Enno Brandes reached the octafinals, finishing 4–2. Seibels was also recognized individually as the tournament’s 11th overall speaker.

This home victory adds to a growing list of accomplishments for the MBA debate team. Over Winter Break, Howard and Li also claimed first place at the John Edie Holiday Debates at The Blake School in Minnesota. With wins at four of the season’s six major national tournaments—including a close out (first and second place) at the Greenhill (Texas Invitational, three of the top four spots at the St. Mark's (Texas) event, and a finalist finish at The Glenbrooks (Illinois)— MBA Debate has established itself as a national force.

With a remarkable first half of the season behind them and a number of prestigious invitations already secured, the Big Red debaters now set their sights on a strong finish. MBA teams currently rank first, second, and seventh in the national coaches poll and are expected to be contenders at upcoming events hosted by Emory and Cal Berkeley, as well as the national championship tournaments in March and April.