UNT Debate won its first foray in parliamentary debate last weekend at Tarrant County College. UNT debaters won first place, second place, fifth place, and took the overall sweepstakes award at the tournament. Three different debate teams posted a total of 14 wins and 0 losses over the course of the tournament.

Mackenzie Marquess(freshman Communication major from Wheeless) and Brenton Browne (freshman Political Science major from Lindale) were undefeated in the preliminary competition and defeated San Jacinto North College in the semifinals to go on to the finals and eventually first place. Anthony Brown (junior Communication major from Irving) and Amber Herrington (sophomore Political Science major from Flower Mound) were also undefeated in preliminary rounds and toppled Texas Southern in the semifinals to meet Marquess and Browne in the finals. Abron Hester (freshman Political Science major from Harker Heights) and Jennifer Miller (junior Sociology major from Arlington) beat East Central University and Tarrant County in the preliminary rounds but did not have sufficient points to be in the semifinals. Mackenzie Marquess was also named the tournament's best speaker.

17 different teams competed at the "Novice Only" competition held in Tarrant County and not only did the Mean Green take home the title, but also began a new era of UNT Debate. While UNT has had steady success in policy-oriented debate (including a national title in 1948, runners up in 2004, and top speaker in 2009) the Tarrant County Tournament marks the squad's first competition in the National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA). With early success, UNT Debate hopes to continue its winning ways.