WKU News

The WKU Forensics Team won the sweepstakes championship at the second annual Asynchronous Speech Championship hosted virtually by Southwest Minnesota State University on March 22-26.

WKU also took seven of the top 10 in Individual Sweepstakes, an award which acknowledges the points students accumulate across all their events. Junior Samantha Sallee of Danville, Kentucky, was awarded 3rd Place in individual sweepstakes.

WKU placed ahead of 38 schools including the University of Illinois Chicago, The University of Alabama, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire among others.

Director of Forensics Ganer Newman said: “This competition encourages our students to think outside the box when presenting virtually, preparing our team members to embrace the complexities of communication in our modern workplace. Winning ASC was one of our key competitive goals this season, but the students have not let their foot off the gas yet. We depart for Bradley University in less than one week to defend our national championship title at the National Forensics Association tournament. We hope members of the campus community will join us on April 6 at 7:00 p.m. in the FAC Recital Hall for our final free showcase before we leave for nationals.”

Results from the Asynchronous Speech Championship are as follows:

After Dinner Speaking

• Quarterfinalists: Collin Tuerk of Morehead, Kentucky; Joey Eberle of Maple Grove, Minnesota; Danielle Williams of Goodlettsville, Tennessee; Mauricio Patino of Stockton, California
• Semifinalists: Dakota Perry of Morehead, Kentucky; Tani Washington of Henrico, Virginia
• Finalists: Christian Butterfield of Bowling Green, Kentucky, Champion

Communication Analysis

• Semifinalists: Collin Tuerk; Caitlyn Woitena of Houston, Texas.
• Finalists: Tani Washington Champion; Jaleon Brown of Raytown, Missouri, 5th; Samantha Sallee of Danville, Kentucky, 6th.

Dramatic Interpretation

• Quarterfinalists: Noah Gordon of Pittsburg, California; Denise Marine of Houston, Texas.
• Semifinalists: Micah Poole of Lafayette, Louisiana; Shainna Ralston of Eldorado, Illinois; Reginald Jefferson of Houston, Texas.
• Finalists: Mauricio Patino, Champion; Caitlyn Woitena, 2nd; Samantha Sallee, 6th.

Duo Interpretation

• Semifinalists: Jaleon Brown and Danielle Williams; Collin Tuerk and Noah Gordon.
• Finalists: Caitlyn Woitena and Samantha Sallee, Champions; Jonah Jonson of Burnsville, Minnesota, and Cecilia Alali of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 2nd; Samantha Sallee and Reginald Jefferson, 3rd.

Extemporaneous Speaking

• Finalists: Christian Butterfield, 4th; Kole Ingram of Hindman, Kentucky, 5th.

Impromptu Speaking

• Quarterfinalists: Caroline Chubb of Lewis Center, Ohio; Kole Ingram; Reginald Jefferson.
• Finalists: Cecilia Alali, 4th.

Informative Speaking

• Quarterfinalists: Mauricio Patino.
• Semifinalists: Jonah Johnson; Collin Tuerk; Tani Washington.
• Finalists: Cecilia Alali, 2nd; Danielle Williams, 3rd; Samantha Sallee, 5th.

Persuasive Speaking

• Quarterfinalists: Dakota Perry.
• Semifinalists: Caitlyn Woitena.
• Finalists: Jaleon Brown, 2nd; Rashin Leday, 4th

Poetry Interpretation

• Semifinalists: Noah Gordon; Jaleon Brown; Shainna Ralston; Reginald Jefferson.
• Finalists: Cecilia Alali, Champion; Mauricio Patino, 2nd; Danielle Williams, 3rd; Micah Poole, 6th.

Program Oral Interpretation

• Semifinalists: Danielle Williams; Rashon Leday.
• Finalists: Christian Butterfield, 2nd; JaKayla Brown, 5th; Jonah Johnson, 6th.

Prose Interpretation

• Quarterfinalists: Dakota Perry; Noah Gordon.
• Semifinalists: Samantha Sallee; Shainna Ralston.
• Finalists: Mauricio Patino, 2nd; Caitlyn Woitena, 3rd; Tani Washington, 4th; Jaleon Brown, 6th.

Individual Sweepstakes

• Samantha Sallee, 3rd; Cecilia Alali, 4th; Caitlyn Woitena, 5th; Mauricio Patino, 6th; Tani Washington, 7th, Jaleon Brown, 8; Danielle Williams, 10th.

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

Contact: Ganer Newman, (270) 745-6340

-- 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.