WKU News

The 41 members of the WKU Forensics Team are preparing for the 2017-18 season that begins Sept. 22 with the annual WKU/Alumni Fall Swing Tournament and the Alexis Elliott Memorial Lincoln-Douglas Round Robin debate tournament.

The nationally recognized speech and debate team welcomes 14 new members this fall and includes students from across the United States pursuing numerous academic programs at WKU.

“This summer, we were so excited to welcome this incredibly talented group of students,” WKU Director of Forensics Ganer Newman said. “After watching the effort they put into their events during preseason boot camp and the way they came together, I cannot wait to see what they will accomplish this season.”

In 2016-17, WKU won the National Forensic Association (NFA) National Tournament championship and the National Forensic Association Lincoln-Douglas Debate Team Sweepstakes National championship, won its 25^th consecutive Kentucky Forensic Association championship and finished second in the American Forensic Association (AFA) National Individual Events Tournament.

The team will travel in some capacity almost every weekend from mid-September to the end of the competitive season in April. The Pi Kappa Delta National Comprehensive Tournament will be hosted by Tennessee State University March 14-17; the AFA National Individual Events Tournament will be hosted by Colorado College April 5-10; and the NFA National Tournament will be hosted by the University of Wisconsin April 18-24.

“Our students are thrilled to build on WKU’s tradition of excellence in speech and debate. We especially want to make sure that Dr. Caboni’s inaugural year as our university president is a championship season,” Newman said.

The 2017-18 WKU Forensics Team includes:

• Nas Ali, a junior from Roseville, Minnesota, studying an Interdisciplinary program.
• Andrea Ambam, a junior from Peculiar, Missouri, studying Psychology, Criminology and Social Work.
• Brian Anderson, a junior from Hodgenville, studying Economics, International Affairs and Asian Religions.
• Megan Armstrong, a senior from Morehead, studying Public Relations and Political Science.
• Zach Bernat, a freshman from Canfield, Ohio, studying Communication.
• Mackenzie Birkey, a senior from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, studying Elementary Education.
• Quest Broussard, a freshman from Delcambre, Louisiana, studying Psychology, Criminology and Biology.
• Murphy Burke, a senior from Des Moines, Iowa, studying Public Relations, Citizenship and Social Justice, and Legal Studies.
• Claire Champagne, a sophomore from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, studying Marketing and Finance.
• Casey Child, a junior from Taylor Mill, studying Economics, Marketing and Creative Writing.
• Lyric Davis, a senior from Blue Springs, Missouri, studying Business Administration and Psychological Science.
• Sabas Del Toro, a junior from El Paso, Texas, studying Theater and History.
• Sean Diaz, a senior from El Paso, Texas, studying Acting.
• Kayla English, a junior from Indianapolis, Indiana, studying English and Film.
• Emily Falica, a sophomore from Scottsville, studying International Affairs, Political Science and Professional Writing.
• Durwan Green, a senior from Lewisville, Texas, studying International Business and Spanish.
• Natalie Hedberg, a junior from Chaska, Minnesota, studying Advertising and Graphic Design.
• Lane Hedrick, a junior from Morehead, studying History and Arabic.
• Ashlyn Jones, a freshman from Lafayette, Louisiana, studying Political Science and Environmental Science.
• Isaac Keller, a freshman from Kansas City, Missouri, studying Political Science.
• Eli Lamb, a sophomore from Leesburg, Georgia, studying History and Broadcasting.
• Faith LoPiccolo, a sophomore from Lexington, studying Criminology and Psychology.
• Diego Martinez, a junior from El Paso, Texas, studying International Affairs and Financial Management.
• Sam Moore, a senior from Blue Springs, Missouri, studying Advertising and Sales.
• Lily Nellans, a senior from Des Moines, Iowa, studying International Affairs, Philosophy, and Citizenship and Social Justice.
• Corey Newsome, a freshman from Morehead, studying Business and Economics.
• Diego Oropeza, a junior from El Paso, Texas, studying Theater.
• Tayland Ratliff, a freshman from Youngsville, Louisiana, studying Marketing.
• Alex Rivera, a sophomore from Newton, Kansas, studying Economics and Philosophy.
• Michael Rizzo, a senior from Weston, Florida, studying Advertising and Gender & Women's Studies.
• Bailey Rung, a senior from Blaine, Minnesota, studying Communication Studies and Philosophy.
• Kiyah Sanders, a freshman from Apple Valley, Minnesota, studying Marketing.
• Kelly Stone, a junior from Louisburg, Kansas, studying Political Science and Economics.
• Anthony Survance, a sophomore from Louisville, studying Political Science, Philosophy, and Communication.
• Emma Warnecke, a freshman from West Bloomfield, Michigan, studying Business.
• Bradley Wascher, a sophomore from Montgomery, Alabama, studying Political Science.
• Asha Wasuge, a senior from Irvine, California, studying Communication Studies and Broadcasting.
• Symone Whalin, a freshman from Sonora, studying Chemistry and Biology.
• Alyssa Wilhelm, a sophomore from Roseville, Minnesota, studying Psychology and Biology.
• Rickey Williams, a freshman from Minneapolis, Minnesota, studying Marketing.
• Matt Wisenden, a junior from Moorhead, Minnesota, studying Public Relations and Environmental Sustainability.

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

Contact: Ganer Newman, (270) 745-6340