2026 Western States Communication Association Tournament

San Diego State University - Feb 27-1 | Status: Accepting Entries

Profile Image
  Home   Contact Tournament   Schedule   Registration   Late Adds   Late Drops   Entries   Headquarters   Postings   eBallots   Results

Judge Philosophies

Alex Silerio - UTEP

n/a

Annika Fisk - CSULB

I am primarily a speech judge but I have debate experience and I can follow debate. I appreciate strong arguments specifically be very clear about claims and warrents and signpost very clearly. I do not like speeding or spreading when it makes me hard for me to follow the debate. I generally do not like Kritiks and Topicality unless it is done very clearly, and if I cannot follow it I will not vote for you. It is your job to tell me why you won the debate and tell me why your arguments are stronger than your opponents. Please self time and have fun!!

Ashton Poindexter - Utah

I competed in NPDA and NFA-LD throughout my college forensics experience and currently coach at the University of Utah.

I'm okay with whatever arguments you want to run so long as you do clear warranted analysis, argument comparison, and evidence comparison. A couple of key considerations are:
I have a higher threshold for theory if you don't collapse to it.

Kritiks need to explain what the alternative does.
I'll default to topicality/theory being apriori, so if you want me to evaluate something else first you need to make the arguments.
You can't win just because your advocacy could also solve the issue if you haven't linked them to offense.
I'm good with speed, though there's two reservations. First, I often flow electronically now so I need a bit extra time between page transitions. Second, if your opponents ask you to slow I expect you to slow. If you need someone to slow, you should say slow and not clear, clarity I expect them to bite their pallet while still going quick.
In general - I like good arguments, I don't like bad arguments. Pleasemake good arguments and be a good human being while you do it.

Bennett Beltramo - SDSU

Experience:
Ive been involved in speech and debate for several years as both a competitor and a coach, working across platform, limited prep, and NFA-LD. I love this activity because it teaches clear thinking, persuasive speaking, and respectful discourse.

Ideal Round:

My ideal round is professional, respectful, and engaging. Debate should be competitive but not combativeso keep it civil and make me want to listen. Personal attacks or rude behavior will result in drops for conduct.

In IPDA, treat me like a well-informed lay judge. Keep jargon to a minimum and focus on clear, conversational persuasionlike were talking around a dinner table about an issue that matters.

For NPDA/LD:

Im a stock issues traditionalist. I appreciate organized, well-tagged debates with clear clash and strong analysis. I welcome topicality, but make it airtightdefine, violate, explain, impact. Im not big on Kritiks, but Ill evaluate them if clearly linked to the resolution.

Signposting and structure are everything. I only flow whats explicitly said, so connect your arguments and give me clean voters.

Delivery:

Your presence matters. I value clarity, pacing, posture, and tonedebate is about communication, not speed for its own sake. Sound confident, not mechanical.

I time everything (yes, even roadmaps), so keep things concise.

Final Thought:

Be organized, persuasive, and respectful. Make the round enjoyablefor both of usand Ill be happy to reward strong, clear argumentation.

Bob Becker - NWC

As a critic, I believe my task is to weigh the issues presented in the round. I don't enjoy intervening, and try not to do so. To prevent my intervention, debaters need to use rebuttals to provide a clear explanation of the issues. Otherwise, if left on my own, I will pick the issues I think are important. All of that said, I am not an information processor. I am a human being and so are you. If you want me to consider an issue in the round, make sure you emphasize it and explain its importance.

When weighing issues, I always look to jurisdictional issues first. I will give the affirmative some leeway on topicality, but if they can't explain why their case is topical, they will lose. Although some arguments are more easily defeated than others, I am willing to listen to most positions. In reality I probably have a somewhat high threshold for topicality, but if you want to win, you need to spend some time on it and not give the aff any way out of it. In-round abuse is not necessary, but if that argument is made against you, then you need to explain why topicality is important (jurisdiction, aff always wins, etc.) I dont require competing interpretations.

I am fine with critical arguments, but you need to explain how they impact the round. I have found few students can explain how I should evaluate real-world impacts in a debate world, or how I should evaluate and compare real world and debate world impacts. Im fine with critical affs, but you better have some good justification for it. We dont like the resolution doesnt cut it with me. If your critical arguments conflict with your disad, you better have some contradictory arguments good answers.

Performance based argument need to be sufficiently explained as to how they prove the resolution true or false. Or, I need to know how to evaluate it. If you dont tell me, I will evaluate it as I would an interp round.

As with everything else, it depends on how the impacts are explained to me. If one team says one million deaths and the other says dehume, but doesnt explain why dehume is worse than deaths, Ill vote for death. If the other team says dehume is worse because it can be repeated and becomes a living death, etc., then Ill vote for dehume. I think Im telling you that abstract impacts need to be made concrete, but more importantly, explain what the issue is and why I should consider it to be important.

I don't mind speed, but sometimes I physically can't flow that fast. I will tell you if I can't understand you. Also, one new trend I find frustrating in LD is tag lines that are multiple sentences long. Your tag line is a claim, but make it a brief one. Remember, it is YOUR responsibility to make sure I understand what you are saying. Above all, be professional. This activity is fun. Thats why Im here, and I hope that is the reason you are here as well.

Brett Butler-Camp - Chico State

n/a

Christian Curtiss - Utah

In my ~10 years being involved in Debate, I've come to understand debate as competitive storytelling. In a round, you're essentially telling me a story about the resolution: who is effected by the res, what happens when we adopt the res, and why that matters. Whichever side best articulates a world post resolution - as well as telling me why that world is good or bad in comparison to the other side's world - wins the ballot.

I want to do the least amount of work possible when making my decision. Your voter speech should make it clear to me what arguments I am voting on, and how I am weighing them in the round. The more that you leave the judge in the dark, the higher the chance the round is just a coin toss. Don't let that happen, make it crystal clear why you win. I don't want to have to sift through the flow to find your winning argument.

Generally, I'm fine with whatever arguments you want to run (Kritiks, CPs, Theory) in any format, as long as you justify that argument well enough. Love me some critical arguments, but please don't just drop "hyperreal" or some equally obscure term and expect your judges and opponents to know what that is.

Any questions before or after round, just ask!

Courtney Meissner - SDSU

Hi Everyone!

I primarily enjoy I.E. but occasionally judge debate. I teach public speaking alongside a world of other Communication courses and am very fond of international education and topics, as well as interp events specifically!

ADS and Duo are my favorite, but I am always impressed with how compeitors can bring these skills to other events as well! I focus a lot on the speaker's abililty to evoke and illicit emotion from their audience as well as hone their nonverbal skills (gestures, movement, vocalics, etc.).

I would also much rather see speakers perform confidently rather than speedy. Organizing your speech with a clear structure and pattern will brighten my day as well! But most importantly, I want to see the contestants having a good time and learning from one another in these competitions.

On that note, I wish everyone a great tournament!

Duncan Stewart - Utah

n/a

Emma Murdock - Utah

Theory/T: I think that theory is a legitimate check for abuse and prefer if you're running it strategically. Make sure that your voters are terminalized. I don't want just to be told to "vote for education and fairness," tell me why those matter.

K- I don't like them but am familiar with the literature; if you are going to run it, you need to run it well, and it needs to be explained well because it creates better debate about the method of the alternative.

Tell me which impact calc evaluation I should care most about.
Debate should be fun, don't be a dick.

Isaac Ramnani - CSULB

n/a

Jessica Jatkowski - NWC

I have been judging debate since 2015. However, this is only my first year coaching.

The most important element for me as a judge is to be respectful.

We are all coming to debate with our own preferences for issues, but I genuinely put my feelings and thoughts aside and will look at both sides to see who is giving the best argument. It is in the general framework of debate for you to tell me as a judge what I am weighing the debate on and bring evidence to the round. If you are unable to do so, then my general stance of how I judge is on the quality of evidence that both sides are bringing to the round.

In terms of actual speeches, it is important for everyone to understand what the issues and topics are, so speed may not be a benefit if I have to tell you to slow down.

John Loo - SDSU

Background:

  • I've coached speech events for about 12 years and NFA-LD for 6 years.

Philosophy:

  • I evaluate rounds tabula rasa: if it's said and extended, I'll consider it true unless refuted. Dropped arguments can be decisive, especially framework or round-defining claims.
  • I do not assume anythingimpacts must be explained (e.g., why climate change, nuclear war, etc. matter). Debate is not a search for truth; it is a competitive game.

Exceptions:

  • I won't vote on arguments that require me to insert my personal beliefs (use the ballot as a tool, etc.).
  • I won't reward dishonesty. In LD, I read cards and will not vote for debaters who misrepresent evidence.
  • Excessive rudeness or bullying will result in very low speaker points and likely a loss.

Ks and Theory:

  • I am largely tired of kritiks in their traditional forms. You can win one in front of me, but it needs to be distinct, well-applied, and not a generic recycling of the same arguments I've heard for years.

Other Notes:

  • Speed is fine if clear, but only flow what I can understand.
  • Framing and weighing are essential: tell me what matters most.
  • Above all, debate should be competitive, respectful, and fun.

Speech Events

  • Clarity of Story/Argument: Clear throughline guiding the audience.
  • Organization: Clear structure and logical flow.
  • Depth & Research: Strong analysis, evidence, and reasoning.
  • Purposeful Blocking: Movement enhances performance, not just for show.
  • Polish & Professionalism: Well-prepared, confident, smooth execution.
  • Audience Impact: Voice, expression, and connection elevate the piece.

Overall: Prioritize clarity, organization/depth/research second, thoughtful blocking third, and polish/impact last.

Julian Mackenzie - SDSU

Note: This is all for guidance on what I would like to see. At the end of the day have the debate you want to have, and I will do my best to evaluate it.

Background: Hi my name is Julian Mackenzie, I participated in Speech and Debate for a total of 9 years as a competitor and now I'm a Coach for SDSU.

  1. In high school. I competed for four years in mostly Interp, Extemp, Impromptu, LD, and Pufo for Helix Charter High School. In my senior year, I was a debate captain for my high school team.
  2. I competed for two years for the Grossmont Community College team in NPDA, IPDA and Extemp, where I won top competitor for the 2021-2022 school year.
  3. After that I competed for UCSD for three years in NPDA, IPDA, Pufo, and TIPDA, and I was the President of the team.
  4. Now I Coach and I am the Director of Debate and Limited Prep at San Diego State University.

All formats:

  1. I like Lay debate or fast and Technical debate.
  2. I will take any argument into consideration as long as the argument is backed up by logic or evidence.
  3. Both teams/competitors in your last speech please give me clear voters, so that I can make an informed decision.
  4. Have good clash
  5. Please signpost
  6. Please be as organized as possible tell me exactly where you are on the flow.
  7. Please be respectful to everyone in the round.
  8. Have Fun!

IPDA:

  1. I prefer tech over truth, but I will not accept arguments that are a lie and do not have evidence or some truth.
  2. Present strong, logical, cohesive arguments.
  3. Please speak with a clear and calm pace.
  4. Label each of your arguments.
  5. Avoid technical debate jargon.
  6. Keep Cases and arguments simple and clear

NPDA:

  1. I'm ok with theory/topicality but I think it has to be warranted.
  2. I'll vote on a RVI including time skew.
  3. I love Value and Fact rounds, so please do not define a round as policy if it does not have should in the resolution.
  4. K's work in Policy Rounds, run Phil if it's a value round.

NFA-LD:

  1. Run a good and sound plan
  2. Tricks are great, but please keep them at the top of the case.
  3. I'm ok with theory/topicality but I think it has to be warranted.
  4. I'll vote on a RVI including time skew.
  5. Share your doc with me if you are going to spread, please.
  6. Please have your card doc ready to show your opponent's cards

Speech:

  1. As for speech I judge like any other speech judge on content and performance.
  2. Please do not "can" your speech in Impromptu. If I find your "canning" I will place any off-the-cuff speech ahead of you.
  3. I will not automatically rank you lower if your speech is shorter than 10 minutes.

Kyle Landrum - Chico State

n/a

Madison Gillen - Chico State

n/a

Maria Ceballos Paz - NWC

n/a

Phillip Leavenworth - SDSU

n/a

Rafael Fogo-Schensul - Chico State

n/a

Rhiannon Lewis - CSULB

I am primarily a speech judge, however I can and will flow the debate. I teach public speaking and argumentation, so I like when you speak with clarity and provide clear warrants for your claims. Explain to me why your argument is stronger than your opponents'. Don't mumble, and don't speed. It is your job to tell me who I should vote for and why. If you choose to not engage with certain arguments, please make sure you make it clear to me why you are doing so. Organization and verbal signposting will make my job easier too, and it is your job as the speaker to ensure I understand you.

Please time yourselves, and have fun!

Samantha Becker - NWC

I have been judging debate since 2021, although this is my first year at Phi Rho Pi. I believe that as competitors, and as humans, we should be striving for excellence. This is my first judging criteria. Excellence in debate includes the absence of filler words, staying within the time limit, and strong arguments (which include factual evidence and good logic). The more excellent your presentation, the more points allotted to you.

Persuasion is my second judging criteria. Who in the debate persuaded me that their stance is correct? Persuade me by using clear and concise language, factual and credible arguments, and a respectful demeanor toward your opponent. If you are rude, or attack your opponent in any personal way, I will take points away. We are all humans trying our best to strive for excellence, so please treat your opponent the way you would like to be treated.

My last criteria is rebuttal. If you are able to acknowledge all of your opponents arguments and successfully answer them, you are likely to win the round. This means you have strong arguments and have thought your stance all the way through to the end results.

Zoey Alvarez - SDSU

n/a