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Limited historical notations

Like the previous decadal page, this section will not include much historical notation for many years to come, to respect the persons contained within. Adding explanation must likely be left to a future historian. Worth adding until then, the student rosters in each annum list students still on the team in the second semester, while the associated team photo was taken at the very start of the school year, including some persons not listed in the roster.

Additionally, the author of these archives transitioned to a different division of the university at the end of December 2019, thus these archives are reduced to information about the Forensic Team.

 

 

2019-20

WKU Forensic Team

2019-20 WKU Forensic Team standing in fromt of VanMeter Auditorium

(Back row, left to right) Jeremy Frazer (coach), Chad Meadows (debate dir), Seth Peckham (coach), Benjamin Robin (IE dir), Ganer Newman (director); (2nd) Tess Welch, Ben Hanson, Anthony Survance, Isaac Keller, Alex Rivera, Bradley Wascher, Corey Newsome, Rickey Williams; (3rd) Taylor Headrick, Miles Morton, Parker Anderson, Warren Forstmann, Alaina Cassas, Ryan Gosling, Derek Collins; (4th) Tayland Ratliff, Reese Johnson, Sal Tinajero, Jr, Amanda Langford, Paige Allbright, Andre Swai, Rahmane Dixon, Cailtyn Woitena, April Saysithi; (front) Zakkiyah Sanders, Kelly Lingen, Ashlyn Jones, Symone Whalin, Madelynn Einhorn, Faith LoPiccolo, Emma Warnecke, Daliss Hicks, Camille Acosta

(not pictured) Chris Chandler (events),  Debra Gensheimer (office)

 
At the end of March 2020, WKU barred students from returning to campus after Spring Break, and all in-person activities were barred. In order to compete at the NFA National Tournament, the team created videos of performances and used video conferencing to engage in debate. From June 1 to June 20, event committees reviewed performances. Twenty-one schools participated in NFA 2020.
 

  [Link to 2020 Results Archive]

 

Sample Photos (mouse-over for caption) click to enlarge

Reese Johnson (’22) and Corey Newsome (’21) hosting the 2019 Queer & Here ShowcaseStudents who hosted and performed at the 2020 Black Excellence Expo in FebruaryEmma Warnecke (’21) performing Poetry Interpretation at the 2020 Bodies Showcase

Banquet Awards

2020 Banquet awards cancelled due to COVID;

 

 

2020-21

WKU Forensic Team

2020-21 WKU Forensic Team standing in front of VanMeter Auditorium wearing masks

(Back row left to right): Ryan Gosling, Cailtyn Woitena, Derek Collins; (2nd) Tess Welch, Isaac Keller, Ben Hanson, Kelly Lingen, Joseph Eberle, Reginald Jefferson, Taylor Headrick, Reese Johnson; (3rd) Miles Morton, Autumn Howard, Andre Swai, Tani Washington, Rashon Leday, Paige Allbright, Tayland Ratliff, Rickey Williams, Daliss Hicks; (front) Madelynn Einhorn, Naomi Derosiers, Symone Whalin, Emma Warnecke, Corey Newsome, Samantha Sallee

(not pictured) Ganer Newman (director), Jeremy Frazer (coach), Chad Meadows (debate dir), Seth Peckham (coach), Benjamin Robin (IE dir), Debra Gensheimer (office), Kellin Robinson, Imanii Giles, and Rahmane Dixon.  All but Seth *are* pictured in the other team photo below, in the sample area.

 
With this being the last year that the team competed at AFA, this is also the last year that the team swept it's traditional "nats:" (KFA1, AFA2, NFA IE3, NFA L-D).  The team was also recognized in May 2021 by the State Legislature for it's success, authored by local represenative Patti Minter.  A photo was taken with Rep. Minter several months later, so it is shown in the 2022 section.
 

  [Link to 2021 Results Archive]

 

Sample Photos (mouse-over for caption) click to enlarge

Second photo of 2021 WKU Forensic Team, used for the AFA press releaseDirector Ganer Newman addressing the team during warm-ups before AFA virtual out-rounds.Director Newman addressing students in Garrett Conference Center ballroom (outside team offices) during warm-up before AFA out-rounds

 

 

2021-22

WKU Forensic Team

2021-22 WKU Forensic Team holding awards from NFA at the end of the competition year

(Back row, left to right) Imanii Giles, Tanya Pabhakar, Hannah Jones, Tani Washington, Kelly Lingen, Kellin Robinson, Christian Butterfield, Jonah Johnson, Samantha Sallee, Rachael Akinbayo, Joseph Eberle, Danialle Williams, Dakota Perry, Jaleon Brown, Collin Tuerk, Mauricio Patino; (front) Antonina Clementi, Tess Welch, Imamulhaq Brula, Miles Morton, Andre Swai, Noah Gordon, Reginald Jefferson, Caitlyn Woitena, Reese Johnson, Rashon Leday

(not pictured above) Ganer Newman (director), Jeremy Frazer (coach), Chad Meadows (debate dir), Seth Peckham (coach), Benjamin Robin (IE dir), Anthony Survance (GA debate), Sean Diaz (GA IE), Debra Gensheimer (office)

 

  [Link to 2022 Results Archive]  

 

Alumnus Carrie Guggenmos (often team photographer) sponsored an end of season event called the “Champions Ball” to celebrate student accomplishments in person and host the annual “senior sendoff,” where underclass team members toast the outgoing senior team members.  First photo below: (back l-r) Dakota Perry, Christian Butterfield, Collin Tuerk, Rashon Leday, Miles Morton, Reese Johnson, Tayna Prabhakar, Tress Welch, Shainna Ralston, Danielle Williams, Jaleon Brown, Paige Allbright, Madelynn Einhorn; (front) Mauricio Patino, Imanii Giles, Noah Gordon, Jonah Johnson, Samantha Sallee

Most tournaments were online.  Thus the Asynchronous Speech Championship was devised, and the below photo (sample2) shows the WKU competitors: (back l-r) Dakota Perry, Collin Tuerk, Caitlyn Woitena, Danielle Williams, Reese Johnson, Jaleon Brown, Christian Butterfield, Chad Meadows (debate dir); (2nd) Ganer Newman (director), Jonah Johnson, Shainna Ralston, Antonina Clementi, Rachel Akinbayo; (front) Rashon Leday, Samantha Sallee, Paige Allbright, Kellin Robinson, Tani Washington, Joseph Eberle

The team also moved out of Garrett Conference Center (demolished) and moved into the former Honors College house.

 

Sample Photos (mouse-over for caption) click to enlarge

Senior Send-off event 2022; student identities posted on website aboveTeam photo for the new Asynchronous Speech Championship2022 Lincoln-Douglas debate students: Miles Morton, Antonina Clemente, Andre Swai, Imam Brula; (front) Tanya Prabhakar, Madelynn Einhorn, Tess Welch, Avery LinehanPortion of Garrett Conference Center during demolition in 2022During GCC demolition in 2022, the doors to the former team officeRep. Patti Minter w/ some team members at the WKU Fall Tournament, marking her authorship of a citation recognizing the team months earlier

 

 

2022-23

WKU Forensic Team

2022-23 WKU Forensic Team in front of the WKU Commons (formerly Margie Helm Library)

(Back row, l-r) Ganer Newman (Director), Christian Butterfield, Collin Tuerk, Somtoo Nkruhmeh, Rae Fournier, Dakota Perry, Caroline Chubb, Chad Meadows (debate dir); (2nd) Debra Gensheimer (office), Micah Poole, Caitlyn Woitena, Kole Ingram, Rashon leday, Jonah Johnson, Evan Grisham (GA); (3rd) Jaleon Brown, Miles Morton, Reginald Jefferson, Joseph Eberle, Seth Peckham (coach); (4th): Antonina Clementi, Cecilia Alali, Rachel Akinbayo, Noah Gordon; (5th) Kirsten Eversmann, Danielle Williams, JaKayla Brown, Andre Swai, Ben Robin (IE dir), Sean Diaz (coach); (front) Denise Marine, Tanya Prabhakar, Hannah Jones, Tani Washington, Samantha Sallee, Gabriella Abuanza, Shainna Ralston, Mauricio Patino

(not pictured above) Julie Mischuk (in PKD photo, back row next to Collin), Imamulhaq Brula (in PKD back next to Maurico)

 

  [Link to 2023 Results Archive]

Most tournaments remained online.

 

Sample Photos (mouse-over for caption) click to enlarge

Preseason camp BBQ @ Newman homeFall 2022 warmup after team photo2023 Black Excellence Exposition studentsMauricio Patino hosts 2023 Bodies ShowcaseJonah Johnson & Rashon Leday performing duo interpretation at 2023 Night Before Nationals2023 Pi Kappa Delta national champions w/ awards

 

 

2023-24

WKU Forensic Team

2023-24 WKU Forensic Team in front of the WKU Commons (formerly Margie Helm Library)

(Back l-r): Karon Petty, Collin Tuerk, Imamulhaq Brula, Somtoo Nkruhmeh, Nik Schintgen, Rae Fournier, Kole Ingram, Evan Grisham (GAt), Dakota Perry; (2nd) Jacob Holbrook, Jonah Johnson, Chase Shockley, Antonina Clementi, Reginald Jeffereson, Joseph Eberle, Christian Butterfield, Ryder Hebert; (3rd) Kirsten Eversmann, Jaleon Brown, Noah Gordon; (4th) Caroline Chubb, Danielle Williams, Yasmina Murdova, Sophie Todaro, Tani Washington, Sean Diaz (Icoach), Benjamin Williams (GA); (front) Jade Ismail, Denise Marine, Hannah Jones, JaKayla Brown, Rashon Leday, Samantha Sallee, Micah Poole, Mauricio Patino

(Not pictured) Ganer Newman (dir), Debra Gensheimer (office), Chad Meadows (debate dir), Seth Peckham (coach), Ben Robin (IE dir)

 

  [Link to 2024 Results Archive]

Most tournaments remained online.

 

Sample Photos (mouse-over for caption) click to enlarge

 

 

 

 

  1. 2021 KFA results press release: URL: https://www.wku.edu/news/articles/index.php?view=article&articleid=9456
  2. 2021 AFA results press release: URL: https://www.wku.edu/news/articles/index.php?view=article&articleid=9574
  3. 2021 NFA results press release: URL: https://www.wku.edu/news/articles/index.php?articleid=9618&view=article

 

 

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