PLNU’s Speech and Debate Team reflects on successful year

As the school year comes to an end, Point Loma Nazarene University’s Speech and Debate Team finishes a strong season, with many students emerging from tournaments with national rankings. 

Speech and debate is an opportunity for students to research all aspects of an argument, prepare for a public debate and defend their point of view in hopes of persuading an audience and panel of judges.

In the world of debate, there are two main styles: the National Parliamentary Debate Association and the International Public Debate Association.

NPDA is a style that typically has two sets of partners debating with a more traditional, formal tone. IPDA has two people in a one-on-one setting, debating conversationally. Both styles are studied and practiced by PLNU’s debate team. IPDA is a newer format that the school began participating in during the 2018-19 season. 

The team is spearheaded by Skip Rutledge, a communication professor and debate coach, and student presidents Jesse Stirling, a fourth-year biology major, and Gisselle Martin, a third-year biology major. 

Participating in debate in high school and even pursuing it in college, Rutledge fell in love with the activity and knew that he wanted to incorporate it into his life.

“I’ve always considered something of a career that would lend itself to that, but instead went into project management with the government,” Rutledge said. “I even considered law school, but I discovered teaching.”

Coming to PLNU for a teaching credential, Rutledge found himself going from a volunteer to an adjunct professor and, most recently, to department chair, cementing his position as the debate coach.

Martin said that debate has shaped her for the better as she pursues her future career goals outside of PLNU in STEM education. 

“Debate forces you to see multiple perspectives that you wouldn’t have even considered, given the choice,” Martin said. “I have grown in that way where I am more open to receive different opinions, but recognize a person needs to defend those opinions.” 

When it comes to achievements, Rutledge said that PLNU stands out at every event they attend, thanks to the school’s strong reputation.  

“Our debate style so resonated with the community that our team just excelled,” Rutledge said. “We, by a large margin, ended up in first place when adding up the points and rankings. Over time, we have far more points.” 

This season, students like Hope Lomelino, a first-year business administration major, were ranked sixth nationally for IPDA debate, without debate experience prior to PLNU. At Christian College Nationals in late March, Lomelino took second overall, as Olivia Choe, a first-year finance major, took eighth overall. 

At the “Cove Classic,” held by the University of California, San Diego, this past January, Japheth Russell, a first-year political science major, and Teagen Heise, a first-year political science major, were semi-finalists in the Novice IPDA Debate section. PLNU ranked third in the Cove Classic Sweepstakes and earned second place in the 2025 Griffin Invitational at Grossmont College. 

Regardless of year, major or experience, many PLNU students said they have gained a positive experience through speech and debate.

Sara Clark, a second-year biology major, got into debate in her first year and hasn’t looked back since.

“I was able to find a good community of people from a whole range of majors. From poli-sci to STEM to child development, it’s been such a great opportunity to meet a whole span of people,” Clark said. “It’s a great way to get to know people, and you can join with no debate experience.”