College of Education and Behavioral Sciences News

The WKU Forensics Team captured first place in Lincoln-Douglas Debate by way of a close-out between senior Ben Hanson and junior Madelynn Einhorn at the 23rd annual Gorlock Gala hosted virtually by Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, Jan. 29-31. 

A close-out occurs when one University advances two students to the final (top two) round of competition who then share the tournament championship. Webster University’s tournament is a key competition for the WKU Debate program as it is generally the largest and most difficult event of the invitational season in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

On the way to the championship, Einhorn and Hanson won six single-elimination debates against representatives from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Missouri State University and Lewis and Clark College, among others. 

The WKU Forensics Team also competed in individual events at the Gorlock Gala, and placed third in Individual Events and Combined Sweepstakes ahead of Simpson College and Lafayette College. 

The team will compete this weekend at a virtual tournament hosted Eastern Michigan University.

Results from the “Gorlock” are as follows:

• Communication Analysis: Corey Newsome of Morehead, first.
• Dramatic Interpretation: Reggie Jefferson of Houston, Texas, fourth; Tayland Ratliff of Youngsville, Louisiana, excellence.
• Impromptu Speaking: Joey Eberle of Maple Grove, Minnesota, semifinals.
• Informative Speaking: Rahmane Dixon of Houston, Texas, third; Samantha Sallee of Danville, fourth.
• Poetry Interpretation: Kelly Lingen of Lakeville, Minnesota, second; Rickey Williams of Minneapolis, Minnesota, fourth.
• Program Oral Interpretation: Corey Newsome, first; Stefani Giles of Hodgenville, third.
• Prose Interpretation: Daliss Hicks of Miramar, Florida, third; Samantha Sallee, fourth; Tayland Ratliff, excellence.
• Lincoln-Douglas Debate Speaker: Tess Welch of Houston, Texas, sixth; Madelynn Einhorn of Dayton, Ohio, ninth; Ben Hanson of Louisville, 17th; Andre Swai of Springfield, Missouri, 18th; Symone Whalin of Sonora, 19th.
• Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Ben Hanson, co-champion; Madelynn Einhorn, co-champion; Tess Welch, quarterfinals; Isaac Keller of Kansas City, Missouri, octofinals; Andre Swai, octofinals; Miles Morton of Sherman Oaks, California, double-octofinals; Symone Whalin, double-octofinals.

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

Contact: Ganer Newman, (270) 745-6340