WKU News

The WKU Forensics Team won the 77th L.E. Norton Memorial Tournament at Bradley University. Back row (from left): Christian Butterfield, Nik Schintgen, Kirsten Eversmann, Ameya Prunik, Rachael Akinbayo, Jaleon Brown, Sophie Todaro, Joie Willoughby, Somtoo Nkruhmeh, Elizabeth Allen Jay Roccaforte, Finn Larson, Ryder Hebert; front row (from left): Cecilia Alali, Karisha Letty, Sydney Rettig, Callie Head, Jade Ismail, Aquilla Dunn, Jonah Johnson.

WKU took first in sweepstakes at the 77th L.E. Norton Memorial Tournament hosted by Bradley University November 2-3.

“The Norton” is the largest fall semester in-person competition featuring 32 teams and 250 students with 649 entries.

WKU Forensics had three students in the Top 5 of individual sweepstakes, representing those students earning the most points at the tournament, including a top-two closeout of the award. Senior Cecilia Alali of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, continued her streak of individual sweepstakes wins from the Crimson Classic in October by taking first place at the Norton. Alali advanced five events to the Top 6 and won two. Senior Christian Butterfield of Bowling Green, Kentucky, earned second in individual sweepstakes by advancing four events to the final round and winning three. Senior Jonah Johnson of Burnsville, Minnesota, tied for fifth by with two Top 6 placings, a tournament championship, and a semifinal finish. 

Twenty students on the WKU Forensics team attended the Norton, and collectively placed ahead of The University of Alabama, George Mason University, Eastern Michigan University, and The University of Illinois-Chicago.

Four WKU students also competed at the “Redbird,” hosted by Illinois State University. Three students advanced to elimination rounds or earned speaker awards. Junior Joshua St. Peter of Canton, Georgia, was the second speaker and junior Kole Ingram of Hindman, Kentucky, was the third speaker. Despite the smaller group heading to “The Bird,” WKU took third place in team sweepstakes.

WKU will conclude its fall season at Wake Forest University and by hosting its annual Fall Semester High School tournament: the Hilltopper Classic.

Results from the 77th L.E. Norton Memorial Tournament are as follows:

• After Dinner Speaking: Cecilia Alali, 1st; Jade Ismail of Lafayette, Louisiana, 3rd; Kirsten Eversmann of Harrisburg, Illinois, 4th; Rachel Akinbayo of Houston, Texas, Top 12.
• Communication Analysis: Christian Butterfield, 1st; Rachael Akinbayo, 4th.
• Dramatic Interpretation: Cecilia Alali, 1st; Jade Ismail, 2nd, Somtoo Nkurumeh of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 3rd; Sophie Todaro of St. Paul, Minnesota, Top 12; Finn Larson of Moorhead, Minnesota, Top 12; Jaleon Brown of Kansas City, Missouri, Top 12.
• Novice Dramatic Interpretation: Joie Willoughby of Little Rock, Arkansas, 4th.
• Duo Interpretation: Jonah Johnson and Finn Larson, 1st; Cecilia Alali and Jonah Johnson, 2nd.
• Novice Duo Interpretation: Elizabeth Allen of Portland, Tennessee, and Joie Willoughby, 1st.
• Extemporaneous Speaking: Christian Butterfield, 3rd; Ryder Hebert, Top 12.
• Impromptu Speaking: Christian Butterfield, 1st; Cecilia Alali, 4th.
• Informative Speaking: Christian Butterfield, 1st; Somtoo Nkurumeh, 3rd; Ryder Hebert of Madison, Mississippi, 5th; Nik Schintgen of Lansing, Kansas, Top 12.
• Novice Persuasive Speaking: Elizabeth Allen, 6th.
• Poetry Interpretation: Karisha Petty of Spring, Texas, 4th; Sydney Rettig of Perrysburg, Ohio, Top 12.
• Novice Poetry Interpretation: Aquilla Dunn of St. Paul, Minnesota, 2nd.
• Novice POI: Aquilla Dunn 2nd; Elizabeth Allen, 3rd.
• Prose Interpretation: Cecilia Alali, 4th; Jonah Johnson, Top 18; Jay Roccaforte of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Top 18; Somtoo Nkurumeh, Top 18.

Results from the Redbird are as follows:

• Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Joshua St. Peter, Top 4; JaKayla Brown of Kansas City, Kansas, Top 8.

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