The new Simpson College debate team hasn’t taken long to make its mark.

Formed last September, the group received the Sweepstakes Award for overall team points Friday at the Ohio University International in Athens, Ohio.

Representing Simpson were: freshmen Kate Hayden and Tom Sandford, sophomores Dustin Peters and Taylor Van De Krol and seniors Ashley Klocke and Phillip Seiwert.

“I was proud of how hard the team worked to prepare,” said Spencer Waugh, Simpson’s debate team director. “They represented the college and the community very well.”

Peters and Sanford placed second and Seiwert and Klocke placed third.

In addition, Peters was named the second-best speaker at the event.