College of Education and Behavioral Sciences News

The WKU Forensics Team captured first place in team sweepstakes at the NFA-LD Grand Prix hosted virtually by The Spicer Debate Forum of Missouri State University on March 13-14. 

Lincoln-Douglas debate is a one-on-one policy style of debate which is sponsored by the National Forensic Association, thus the name NFA LD.

The tournament is designed to act as a capstone to the season by offering a challenging and rigorous competition right before the season ending national tournaments. After 12 rounds and nearly 30 hours of grueling competition, WKU placed in the top four of three different divisions, advanced eight debaters to elimination rounds, received nine speaker awards and earned the top two places in the “General Admission” division. These collective efforts led to WKU being recognized as the top overall team at the tournament.

At the 2021 Grand Prix, WKU competed against the University of Notre Dame, Pennsylvania State University, Lafayette College and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, among others. WKU will face these programs and more at the first-ever virtual National Forensics Association national tournament.

This weekend the team begins its final preparations for the upcoming national tournaments sponsored by the American Forensics Association and the National Forensics Association.

Results from the 2021 Grand Prix are as follows:

• Open Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Andre Swai of Springfield, Missouri, 3rd; Ben Hanson of Louisville, 4th; Tess Welch of Houston, Texas, 7th; Madelynn Einhorn of Oakwood, Ohio, 8th; Isaac Keller of Kansas City, Missouri, 12th.
• General Admission Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Symone Whalin of Sonora, Co-Champion; Miles Morton of Sherman Oaks, California, Co-Champion.
• Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Avery Lenihan of Florence, 2nd.
• Lincoln-Douglas Debate Speaker: Madelynn Einhorn, 1st; Isaac Keller, 3rd; Tess Welch, 4th; Andre Swai, 6th; Ben Hanson, 7th.
• General Admission Lincoln-Douglas Debate Speaker: Symone Whalin, 1st; Miles Morton, 3rd.
• Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate Speaker: Avery Lenihan, 3rd; Hannah Jones of Bowling Green, 8th.

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

Contact: Ganer Newman, (270) 745-6340