Dustin Meyers-Levy (left) and Tommy Donovan.

ANN ARBOR—The University of Michigan finished among the top 16 debate teams nationwide at the recent 71st National Debate Tournament in Overland Park, Kan.

Senior English major Dustin Meyers-Levy and Tommy Donovan, a junior business administration major, lost in the Sweet 16 on a 4-3 decision to the University of Kansas, which hosted the event.

The team had a 6-2 record in the preliminary rounds and entered the elimination rounds as the ninth seed.

The tournament included 78 teams from 43 colleges and universities.

“I am thrilled with the team’s performance at the tournament,” said U-M Debate director Aaron Kall. “The debaters gave it their all, but unfortunately came up just short against a very talented team. With so many young debaters on the team, the future of the program is very bright.”

The U-M Debate Team, which began in 1890 as one of the oldest debate programs in the United States, has reached the elimination rounds at the National Debate Tournament for 11 straight years and at least the Sweet 16 for the last five years in a row. The program is still seeking its first national championship after placing runner-up four times in 1989, 1991, 2014 and 2015.

More information:

• Debate program