Weber State Debate

The finest and most innovative minds in intercollegiate debate have coached under the Weber State Wildcat banner over the course of its nearly 90 year past. Weber State has a lengthy history of success, reaching back decades.  Our graduates have gone on to coach both at prominent high school programs as well as college programs.  Many now have teaching certificates, masters degrees and juris doctors.

 Our goal is to coach responsible, hard working, bright college students through their college years here at Weber.  The entire coaching staff is available to advise your academic career as well as your debate career.  We provide academic support as well as cutting edge argumentative coaching to ensure your success. 

Omar heads the staff as the Director of Forensics.  Omar was a successful nationally competitive debater at Detroit Catholic Central High School.  After being named top speaker at the Tournament of Champions, Omar went on to debate for the University of Iowa, where he was twice named to the elite list of the top 16 teams in the country, twice named a top 10 speaker at the National Debate Tournament, and was a two time Octafinalist at the National Debate Tournament.  He participated in late elimination rounds at every national level tournament and graduated with a bachelors degree in Political Science.  He earned his masters degree in Communication at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Omar eventually moved out West to continue his coaching career.  He started a program at California State University-Bakersfield and within two years, the squad was nationally competitive and subsequently qualified for the prestigious National Debate Tournament (NDT) three years in a row.  In the following years, the squad would make appearances  in national level elimination debates.  Omar came to Weber State in 2003 and has continued his longstanding commitment toward maintaining an open participation, nationally competitive and academically responsible debate team.  Now in his 11th year of directing, Omar has qualified 10 teams to the National Debate Tournament -- 7 of those for Weber State since his arrival. 

Email Omar with any questions you may have about WSU Debate:

Oguevara@Weber.edu

 David is an argument coach for Weber State Debate.  David debated for Bakersfield College for one semester where he won Phi Rho Pi, the Junior College National Championship, and was named along with his partner, outstanding debaters for the tournament.  The next three years, David debated at California State University Bakersfield, becoming the first and only three time qualifier to the presitigous National Debate Tournament (NDT) in the university's history.  David won many mid-major tournaments including Fresno State, CSU Northridge, Wayne State, GSL and the Weber Round Robin, becoming the first person to be named top speaker at both halves of the Utah swing.  He participated in elimination rounds of several major tournaments including USC, Fullerton and Pepperdine.  Competitive highlights include the octafinals at the Henry Clay tournament hosted by the University of Kentucky and being named the 16th speaker at Wake Forest.  After graduating with a bachelors of arts in Speech Communication from CSU Bakersfield, David went on to teach and coach forensics at Golden Valley High School in Bakersfield, CA, to pursue graduate work at Weber State. 

Veronica is an argument coach and adjunct instructor for the Department of Communication.  Veronica debated for the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida.  In her four years, she qualified for the National Debate Tournament, was named 20th speaker at the Henry Clay tournament hosted by the University of Kentucky, and won mid-major tournaments such as the Great Salt Lake Invitiational and the Loyola University, Chicago Tournament.  After graduating with a bachelors in English and Spanish, she went on to Michigan State University where she earned her masters degree in Comparative Literature.  Veronica came to Weber State in 2003 and actively coached for 4 years. Veronica now balances her family at home along with her Weber State debate family -- she is very devoted to both. Her primary responsibilities to the team is as the Director of the Val A. Browning Round Robin. 

Email Veronica with any questions you may have about WSU Debate:

veronica_m_barreto@hotmail.com