The Squad
Squad Members
Dan Bagwell
Dan Bagwell is a Samford Sophomore this year, coming from Early County High School in Blakely, GA. He won the 2008 Vanderbilt University Tournament in just his first year of college debate and was named Sixth Speaker. He returned in 2009 as to become a semi-finalist and second speaker. In 2009, he was in elimination rounds at Georgia State and Kentucky. In high school, he qualified for multiple national tournaments and was named top speaker at the 2008 Richard B. Russell All-State Debate Tournament. He is a movie snob who loves laughing at fans of the Wayan brothers.
Contact information: devilslayer774@gmail.com
Amanda Cherry
Amanda is a Sophomore at Samford. She was recruited by the debate team by her many friends who were already members. Although she has yet to decide to actually debate at a tournament, we hold out hope that she will take the plunge one day soon. In the mean time, she is a valuable assett to the team as a friend, supporter, and "Coffee Girl."
Contact information: acherry@samford.edu
Jayme Cloninger
Jayme "Starbucks" Cloninger is a 3rd year debater from North Carolina. She won the 2007 Vanderbilt Tournament in the Junior Varsity division and is the reigning SEC JV Debater of the year. By far the most dangerous member of the squad, Jayme has a black belt in karate and has taught a group called the "young dragons." Cross her at your own peril. Jayme enjoys golf, running, and breaking bricks with her bare hands. She would also like to make it clear that Dan is her favorite debater!
Contact information: jaclonin@samford.edu
Kaitlin Defoor
Kaitlin comes to Samford after four years of competitive debate at Calhoun High School in Georgia. As a frosh debater, she has already made it to the finals of Georgia State in the JV division and won the University of Richmond JV Tournament. Kaitlin enjoys burning mixed cd's, sleeping, record shopping, and thrift store shopping. She is Abi's favorite new recruit because she is a vegetarian!
Contact information: kdefoor@samford.edu
Robert Elliott
Robert is a Freshman in his first year of collegiate debate. He debated at Stratford Academy in High School and is a member of the prestigious University Fellows Program at Samford. He is known as a go-getter because he decided to join Samford's debate team and was debating hybrid at Vanderbilt just a few days later.
Contact information: relliott@samford.edu
Logan Gramzinski
Logan Gramzinski is a senior from Covington, Georgia. In his college career, Logan has already won three tournaments: John Carroll, the University of Florida, and Vanderbilt. He has been top speaker at the Vanderbilt tournament two years in a row. Logan enjoys golf, ultimate frisbee, and is an expert at rock-paper-scissors (he competes in online tournaments). Logan is known for his sweet, quiet nature and his squeamish sensibilities.
Contact information: logan16@gmail.com
Ben Jones
Ben Jones is a Sophomore debater from Monticello, FL. He debated throughout High School and is competing on one of Samford's Junior Varsity teams this year. In his first appearance, the Vanderbilt Invitational, Ben advanced to the octafinals.
Contact information: bjones@samford.edu
Jacob Lewis
Jacob Lewis is a Sophomore member of the Samford Debate Squad. Jake was in the finals of the Vanderbilt tournament, and the semi-finals of the UTD tournament in his first year of debate. Along with debating, Jacob plays guitar and spends time working on his family's cattle farm in Monticello, FL. Jacob is also a fierce Taboo player and known as a strict rule enforcer.
Contact information: jacobdlewis@gmail.com
Michelle McCorkle
Michelle is a Samford Sophomore who joined the team this year after helping out at our annual high school tournament, The Bishop Guild. She won a 6th place speaker award at her very first JV debate tournament. Michelle has been an intern at To Write Love on Her Arms since 2008 and enjoys music from Lydia, Paper Route, Attack! Attack! and Imogen Heap.
Contact information: mmccorkl@samford.edu
Connor Penwell
Connor Penwell is a Sophomore member of the debate team; recruited by his Samford roommate Dan Bagwell. He debated Public Forum throughout High School in Jupiter, FL. He has already proven his natural debate skills by clearing at his first collegiate tournament in October 2008. He is majoring in Economics and Political Science. In his spare time, Connor enjoys playing basketball and ultimate frisbee or watching obscure films.
Contact information: cpenwell@samford.edu
Janae' Steele
Janae' Steele is a Samford Frosh who joins us from Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School. Janae' is one of our rising stars. She advanced to novice elimination rounds at Liberty University, her very first tournament. In her spare time (of which there is very little), she enjoys talking on the pone, reading, writing, listening to music, and cheerleading.
Contact information: jsteele@samford.edu
