MDL Season Championship
February 1, 2020

Marquette University High School
3306 W Michigan Avenue
Milwaukee, WI

The MDL is proud to offer the MDL Season Championship, hosted by Marquette University High School. The MDL Season Championship will determine the two teams that the MDL sends to compete at the National Urban Debate League's Urban Debate National Championship in Dallas, TX from April 3 to 5, 2020. 

The tournament will offer varsity and novice policy debate divisions. The winning varsity team and the highest ranked MPS team will represent the MDL at the UDNC this spring in Dallas. 

Each MDL member school is permitted two entries in varsity policy and two entries in novice policy. 

UDNC:

The MDL, in connection with NAUDL, covers the travel and hotel costs, as well as some meal expenses, for the two teams and their coach that attend the UDNC. Teams are only responsible for any meals outside of those provided by MDL and any costs incurred sightseeing. 

Awards:

Trophies will be given to the top four teams and top three speakers in Novice and Varsity Policy.

The winning team in Novice and Varsity Policy will receive a $100 cash award.

The top three speakers in Novice and Varsity Policy will receive the following cash awards:

•  First Speaker:  $50

•  Second Speaker:  $40

•  Third Speaker:  $30

Debater of the Year:

Nominations will be accepted from students, judges and coaches for a Novice and Varsity Policy Debater of the Year. Winners will receive an individualized plaque, and their school will receive a perpetual (or traveling) trophy to display for the next year with their name on it until the 2021 MDL Season Championship. 

Judge Obligations:

1 judge per 2 VCX/NCX entries or any fraction thereof. All judges will be obligated for all five rounds. If you need assistance hiring a judge, please contact Benjamin Sauer for assistance. 

Registration:

The registration deadline is THURSDAY, JANUARY 30TH AT 11:55 PM. No registration fee is charged to any school for entries at the MDL Season Championship. However, nuisance and drop fees will apply to any changes (e.g. late registrations, drops, etc.) made after this time.

You are able to change names, drop entries and finalize judge registration until Friday, January 31st at 11:55 PM.

If you do not bring the required number of judges, the tournament reserves the right to charge you $100 per missing judge. We will do our best to have extra judges, but you should expect few - if any - extra judges available.

Registration Fees:

All entry fees are waived for this tournament. Please note that nuisance and drop fees do still apply.

Address for Nuisance/Drop Fees:

Please make all checks payable to: Milwaukee Debate League

If you are mailing the check, please send the check to:

Milwaukee Debate League
C/O Benjamin Sauer
615 Ryan Street, Suite 100
Pewaukee, WI 53072

Food:

Lunch will be provided for both students and judges for free. Concessions will be available for purchase by students. 

Novice Debate:

Novice Policy will follow the WDCA Standing Rules for novice policy debate. 

Tournament Schedule:

Online Check-in Starts: 4:00 am
In-person Check-in Starts: 7:30 am
Check-in Ends: 8:00 am
Round 1: 8:30 am
Round 2: 10:45 am
Lunch
Round 3: 1:30 pm
Round 4: 3:45 pm
Awards: 6:00 pm
Finals:  6:45 pm

Online Balloting / Decision Time:

The tournament will do everything possible to adhere strictly to the above schedule. To help achieve that goal, all judges will be required to use online balloting and decision timers will be used. Judges will have 2 hours and 15 minutes from the scheduled start time of their round to enter a decision online.

Parking & Drop-Off:

The school entrance is at 4965 S 20th Street. Enter through the main school entrance. Entry will not be permitted at any other doors.

Buses:

Please drop students off on Michigan Street between 33rd and 34th Streets. Buses should not enter the circle drive or the parking lot adjacent to the building. Bus parking is available in the lot on the southwest corner of 34th and Michigan. You can enter the lot on Michigan between 34th and 35th Streets.

Cars & Vans:

You may drop off on Michigan or the circle drive. You can park in the staff parking lot. The entrance to the staff parking lot is on 20th Street.

Building Entry:

Please enter the school through the glass doors on the circle drive. Entry will not be permitted at any other doors.

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If you have any questions about the tournament, please reach out to:

Benjamin Sauer, Program Director, Milwaukee Debate League
bsauer@fredastaire.com

John Tao, Executive Director, Milwaukee Debate League
johntao@urbandebate.org