WKU News

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

The Western Kentucky University Forensics Team won the National Forensics Association National Tournament sweepstakes championship hosted by Illinois State University April 15-18.

WKU sent 28 competitors with a total of 82 individual event (IE) entries and eight debate entries to the tournament. Of the 82 IE entries, WKU advanced 75 of the entries to the octofinal round; 51 entries advanced to the quarterfinal round; 33 entries advanced to the semifinal round; and 17 IE events advanced to the final round of the tournament.

WKU entered eight debaters in the tournament. Six of the entries advanced to the elimination rounds. Two advanced to the top 16. Senior Tess Welch advanced to the final round. This is the third straight year WKU has been represented in the top two of Lincoln-Douglas Debate. WKU was awarded third place in sweepstakes for debate.

Director of Debate Chad Meadows said: “Returning to the final round of Lincoln-Douglas debate for the third straight year is a testament to the program’s consistency.  Every member of the team pulled together to help create that opportunity.”

Four WKU speakers received Pentathlon awards in recognition of the total points individuals earn across multiple events. Senior Paige Allbright placed third overall.

Director of Forensics Ganer Newman said that, for many reasons, this was one of the most difficult national experiences the team has ever prepared for. Newman spoke of the logistical challenges leading up to the national tournament, never knowing if the national competition would pivot to an online format. “Our plan was to begin the season virtually, and then migrate the students to in-person regular season competitions to practice their in-person skills for nationals,” he said. Unfortunately, every planned in-person competition eventually switched back to virtual. “As the dominoes fell, we realized we would not be able to provide these students with an in-person competitive experience prior to nationals, making it extremely difficult to prepare these students for what to expect when they stood up to speak in front of a crowd of 300 people.”

Additionally, the team was working in a different building for the first time in 15 years. To prepare, the students used spaces in Cherry Hall, Kelly Thompson Hall and Ogden College Hall, and hosted showcases to practice the dynamics of speaking before larger audiences. “We sincerely appreciate those departments and faculty members for being patient with us in a situation that was less than ideal,” Newman said.

Despite challenges, WKU was crowned the open sweepstakes champion for individual events. The University of Texas at Austin placed second, Eastern Michigan University placed third, Lewis and Clark College placed fourth, and Illinois State University placed fifth.

Newman said this national championship victory is both deeply personal and one that belongs to the community. “I lost my fully vaccinated father to the virus during the first week of this season. Some of our coaches, like so many members of our community, were also impacted by the devastating tornado this December. Despite this, our coaches gave their absolute best to prepare our students for the uncertainties they would face. The seniors, the only members of the team who had ever competed at an in-person nationals before, did their best to pass down wisdom to their teammates. When someone experienced a disappointing result, they allowed their role to change and helped another teammate reach their potential. I’ve seen a lot of that kind of selflessness going around in Bowling Green lately. It was an amazing, life affirming sight that made the result more meaningful. This is not just a victory for WKU Forensics. For me, this win is for every person in our community who has ever felt hopeless. Even in times of catastrophe, hope wins,” he said.

Members of the Championship team were: Racheal Akinbayo of Houston, Texas; Paige Allbright of Youngsville, Louisiana; Jaleon Brown of Raytown, Missouri; Christian Butterfield of Bowling Green, Kentucky; Imam Brula of Bowling Green, Kentucky; Antonina Clementi of Lafayette, Louisiana; Joey Eberle of Maple Grove, Minnesota; Madelynn Einhorn of Oakwood, Ohio; Imanii Giles of Hodgenville, Kentucky; Noah Gordon of Pittsburg, California; Reginald Jefferson of Houston, Texas; Jonah Johnson of Burnsville, Minnesota; Reese Johnson of Burnsville, Minnesota; Hannah Jones of Bowling Green, Kentucky; Rashon Leday of Lafayette, Louisiana; Kelly Lingen of Lakeville, Minnesota; Miles Morton of Sherman Oaks, California; Mauricio Patino of Stockton, California; Dakota Perry of Morehead, Kentucky; Tanya Prabhakar of Danville, California; Kellin Robinson of Roseville, Minnesota; Samantha Sallee of Danville, Kentucky; Andre Swai of Springfield, Missouri; Collin Tuerk of Morehead, Kentucky; Tani Washington of Henrico, Virginia; Tess Welch of Houston, Texas; Danielle Williams of Goodlettsville, Tennessee; Caitlyn Woitena of Houston, Texas.

WKU Forensics coaching staff members are Director of Individual Events, Ben Robin; Director of Debate, Chad Meadows; Limited Preparation Coach, Seth Peckham; Interpretation Coach, Jeremy Frazer; Graduate Assistants Anthony Survance (debate) and Sean Diaz (Individual Events); and Office Coordinator, Debra Gensheimer.

After Dinner Speaking

• Finalists: Resse Johnson, 5th.
• Semifinalists:  Christian Butterfield. 
• Quarterfinalists: Racheal Akinbayo  
• Octofinalists: Danielle Williams; Tanya Prabhakar; Tess Welch; Dakota Perry

Dramatic Interpretation

• Finalists:  Paige Allbright, National Champion.
• Semifinalists:  Mauricio Patino
• Quarterfinalists: Reggie Jefferson; Caitlyn Woitena; Reese Johnson; Kelly Lingen
• Octofinalists: Samantha Sallee; Collin Tuerk.

Duo Interpretation

• Finalists:  Rashon Leday and Reggie Jefferson, National Champion; Kelly Lingen and Reese Johnson, 3rd; Jonah Johnson and Paige Allbright, 5th; Reese Johnson and Jonah Johnson, 6th.
• Semifinalists:  Jaleon Brown and Danielle Williams.
• Quarterfinalists:  Collin Tuerk and Noah Gordon.
• Octofinalists:  Caitlyn Woitena and Paige Allbright

Extemporaneous Speaking

• Finalists: Tess Welch, 6th.
• Semifinalists:  Tani Washington.
• Quarterfinalists:  Miles Morton
• Octofinalists:  Madelynn Einhorn; Christian Butterfield; Antonina Clementi

Impromptu Speaking

• Finalists:  Christian Butterfield, 4th; Tess Welch, 5th.
• Quarterfinalists:  Miles Morton
• Octofinalists:  Antonina Clementi; Joey Eberle

Informative Speaking

• Finalists:  Tani Washington, National Champion.
• Semifinalists:  Reese Johnson; Paige Allbright; Kelly Lingen; Samantha Sallee
• Quarterfinalists:  Caitlyn Woitena; Joey Eberle
• Octofinalists: Tess Welch; Kellin Robinson

Lincoln Douglas Debate

• Speaker Awards:  Tess Welch, 2nd; Madelynn Einhorn 5th.
• Finalists:  Tess Welch, 2nd.
• Top 16:  Andre Swai
• Top 32:  Antonina Clementi; Miles Morton; Imam Brula; Madelynn Einhorn

Persuasive Speaking

• Semifinalists:  Jaleon Brown
• Quarterfinalists:  Kelly Lingen
• Octofinalists:  Tess Welch; Christian Butterfield; Samantha Sallee

Poetry Interpretation

• Finalists:  Reggie Jefferson 3rd; Rashon Leday 4th
• Quarterfinalists:  Imanii Giles; Noah Gordon
• Octofinalists:  Reese Johnson; Kelly Lingen

Program Oral Interpretation

• Finalists:  Kellin Robinson, 5th.
• Semifinalists:  Paige Allbright; Imanii Giles; Tani Washington
• Quarterfinalists:  Jonah Johnson; Mauricio Patino; Danielle Williams

Prose Interpretation

• Finalists:  Rashon Leday, 4th
• Semifinalists:  Reese Johnson; Mauricio Patino; Kelly Lingen; Paige Allbright
• Quarterfinalists:  Caitlyn Woitena
• Octofinalists:  Noah Gordon; Imanii Giles

Rhetorical Criticism

• Finalists:  Tani Washington:  National Champion; Caitlyn Woitena, 6th
• Semifinalists:  Kellin Robinson
• Quarterfinalists:  Christian Butterfield
• Octofinalists:  Samantha Sallee; Racheal Akinbayo; Jonah Johnson

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

-- WKU –

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.