College of Education and Behavioral Sciences News

WKU Forensics took first in open and combined sweepstakes at the College LD Grand Prix March 16-17, hosted on campus in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The team also won sweepstakes at the Asynchronous Speech Championship hosted online March 19-24.

At the Grand Prix, WKU advanced 88 percent of its entries to elimination rounds, represented by students in the Top 4 of all divisions by experience level (novice, junior varsity, and open.)  WKU placed first in open sweepstakes, by accumulating the most points in the championship division. WKU also placed first in combined sweepstakes by accumulating the most points across all three divisions. WKU finished ahead of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Washburn University, and the University of North Texas.

Sophomore Rae Fournier of Woodbridge, Virginia, and freshman Nik Schintgen of Lansing, Kansas, were named to the 2024 All-American team. This is voted on by the LD Coaches Association and recognizes the top 10 competitors in the country on the basis of their success at invitational tournaments during the season. Sophomore Kole Ingram of Hindman, Kentucky, was named one of three emerging debaters of the year, given to students in their first year of debate competition. Director of Debate Chad Meadows was recognized by the LD Coaches Association as the Coach of the Year.

“Bringing the Grand Prix national championship back to WKU after two years is a gratifying feeling,” Meadows said. “The team had their best result at a tournament yet, with many of our young students getting their biggest wins of the season. Alongside receiving several academic and season long awards, this weekend felt like the culmination of the entire season. Now we steady our eyes on the NFA National Championship.”

At the Asynchronous Speech Championship, WKU advanced 62 percent of its entries to elimination rounds, placing at least one student in the top 12 in all 11 events and winning eight of the 11 championships. Ultimately, WKU placed first in sweepstakes ahead of the University of Illinois, Chicago, Wayne State University, and Ball State University.

WKU earned seven of the top 10 individual sweepstakes awards, led by junior Cecilia Alali of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, who placed second in individual sweepstakes. Additionally, senior Rashon LeDay of Lafayette, Louisiana, placed eighth; freshman Jade Ismail of Lafayette, Louisiana, placed seventh; junior Christian Butterfield of Bowling Green, Kentucky, placed sixth; senior Samantha Sallee of Danville, Kentucky, placed fifth; junior Jonah Johnson of Burnsville, Minnesota, placed fourth; and senior Mauricio Patiño of Stockton, California, placed third.

Across the two tournaments, WKU finished first ahead of over 50 Universities from across the country in competitive speech and debate activities.

Director of Forensics Ganer Newman said: “At the start of the season, the team members established strong academic and competitive goals. They wanted to earn an overall team GPA of 3.3 and win four major national competitions: the International Forensics Association, the College LD Grand Prix, the Asynchronous Speech Championship, and the National Forensics Association championship. Establishing goals is one thing, but pushing oneself and motivating each other to engage in the actions to achieve the goal is another. These students have been steadily focused on preparing powerful arguments and composing convincing performances with their coaches. It has been a joy to see their dedication pay off.”

Results from the College LD Grand Prix are as follows:

Novice LD Debate

• Speaker: Yasmina Muradova of Bowling Green, Kentucky, 3rd.
• Place: Yasmina Muradova, 3rd.

Junior Varsity LD Debate

• Speaker: Kole Ingram of Hindman, Kentucky, 2nd; JaKayla Brown of Kansas City, Kansas, 3rd.
• Place: JaKayla Brown, 3rd; Kole Ingram, 6th.

Varsity LD Debate

• Speaker: Rae Fournier, 2nd; Antonina Clementi of Lafayette, Louisiana, 8th; Nik Schintgen, 9th.
• Place: Rae Fournier, Champion; Nik Schintgen, 3rd; Antonina Clementi, 11th; Chase Shockley, 14th.

Results from the Asynchronous Speech Championship are as follows:

After Dinner Speaking

• Quarterfinalists: Collin Tuerk of Morehead, Kentucky
• Semifinalists: Joseph Eberle of Maple Grove, Minnesota
• Finalists: Christian Butterfield, Champion; Jade Ismail, 4th

Communication Analysis

• Semifinalist: Cecilia Alali, Jaleon Brown of Raytown, Missouri
• Finalists: Jade Ismail, Champion; Tani Washington of Henrico, Virginia, 4th.

Dramatic Interpretation

• Quarterfinalists: Jonah Johnson
• Semifinalists: Noah Gordon of Pittsburg, California; Micah Poole of Lafayette, Louisiana; Cecilia Alali.
• Finalists: Jade Ismail, 2nd; Samantha Sallee, 3rd; Mauricio Patiño, 4th; Rashon Leday, 5th

Duo Interpretation

• Semifinalists: Denise Marin of Houston, Texas, and Caroline Chubb of Lewis Center, Ohio; Finn Larson of Moorhead; Minnesota, and Somtoo Nkurumeh of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
• Finalists: Samantha Sallee and Mauricio Patino, Champion; Noah Gordon and Jonah Johnson, 2nd; Jade Ismail and Cecilia Alali, 4th; Rashon Leday and Jonah Johnson, 5th.

Extemporaneous Speaking

• Semifinalists: Ryder Hebert of Madison, Mississippi; Tani Washington.
• Finalist: Christian Butterfield, Champion.

Impromptu Speaking

• Quarterfinalists: Danielle Williams of Goodlettsville, Tennessee; Joseph Eberle, Caroline Chubb
• Finalist: Cecilia Alali, 3rd.

Informative Speaking

• Quarterfinalists: Christian Butterfield, Ryder Hebert.
• Semifinalists: Mauricio Patiño, Rashon LeDay, Jonah Johnson.
• Finalist: Samantha Sallee, Tani Washington, Champion; Jaleon Brown, 4th.

Persuasive Speaking

• Quarterfinalists: Caroline Chubb
• Semifinalist: Cecilia Alali, Danielle Williams

Poetry Interpretation

• Quarterfinalists: Karon Petty of Houston, Texas;  Mauricio Patiño
• Finalists: Jonah Johnson, Champion; Cecilia Alali, 2nd; Somtoo Nkurumeh, 5th.

Program Oral Interpretation

• Quarterfinalists: Collin Tuerk; Finn Larson.
• Semifinalists: Sophie Todaro of St. Paul, Minnesota; Samantha Sallee
• Finalists:  Mauricio Patiño, Champion; Rashon Leday, 2nd; Christian Butterfield, 6th

Prose Interpretation

• Quarterfinalists: Kirsten Eversmann of Harrisburg, Illinois; Somtoo Nkurumeh, Denise Marin, Rashon Leday
• Semifinalists: Jonah Johnson, Samantha Sallee, Tani Washington
• Finalists:  Cecilia Alali, Champion; Caroline Chubb, 3rd; Micah Poole, 6th.

More: Check out the WKU Forensics Facebook page or follow @wkuforensics  and @DebateWku on X/Twitter.

Contact: Ganer Newman, (270) 745-6340

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Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.