WKU News

WKU’s Forensics Team divided into three groups and traveled to Lebanon, Illinois; Normal, Illinois; and Jefferson City, Tennessee, to compete in six tournaments Nov. 11-12.

At Illinois State University in Normal, WKU’s seven-person debate squad was crowned the combined debate team sweepstakes champion for the two tournaments together, after winning the debate team sweepstakes at the second tournament and placing second at the first tournament. Other competing schools included the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Truman State University and the University of Central Missouri.

The squad in Lebanon placed second in team sweepstakes at the first McKendree University tournament. Other competing schools included Illinois State University, Bradley University and the University of Central Missouri.

At Carson-Newman University in Tennessee, WKU team of eight placed second in overall team sweepstakes for the two tournaments together. Additionally, all WKU team members advanced to at least one final round.

The team will not travel next week.

Results from the Illinois State University “Redbird” Debate Swing tournaments are as follows:

• Alex Rivera, a sophomore from Newton, Kansas, tournament champion in Lincoln-Douglas debate and top debate speaker at the second tournament; top debate speaker and second in Lincoln-Douglas debate at the first tournament.
• Isaac Keller, a freshman from Kansas City, Missouri, top novice in Lincoln-Douglas debate and quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate at the second tournament; octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate at the first tournament.
• Kelly Stone, a junior from Louisburg, Kansas, second debate speaker and semifinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate at the second tournament; fourth debate speaker and semifinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate at the first tournament.
• Anthony Survance, a sophomore from Louisville, third debate speaker and quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate at the second tournament.
• Emily Falica, a sophomore from Scottsville, semifinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate at the second tournament.
• Ashlyn Jones, a freshman from Lafayette, Louisiana, quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate at the first tournament.

Results from the McKendree University “City of Cedars and Forensics Roots” Swing Tournaments are as follows:

• Lyric Davis, a senior from Blue Springs, Missouri, tournament champion in informative speaking at the City of Cedars tournament; fourth in informative speaking at the Forensics Roots tournament.
• Matt Wisenden, a junior from Moorhead, Minnesota, tournament champion in dramatic interpretation at the City of Cedars tournament; second in dramatic interpretation at the Forensics Roots tournament.
• Bradley Wascher, a sophomore from Montgomery, Alabama, tournament champion in impromptu speaking at the City of Cedars tournament; fourth in impromptu speaking at the Forensics Roots tournament.
• Asha Wasuge, a senior from Irvine, California, tournament champion in poetry interpretation at the City of Cedars tournament; tournament champion in poetry interpretation at the Forensics Roots tournament.
• Claire Champagne, a sophomore from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, tournament champion in persuasive speaking at the City of Cedars tournament; second in after-dinner speaking, third in persuasive speaking and fourth in prose interpretation at the Forensics Roots tournament.
• Kayla English, a junior from Indianapolis, Indiana, second in informative speaking, second in poetry interpretation and third in after-dinner speaking at the City of Cedars tournament; third in poetry interpretation at the Forensics Roots tournament.
• Casey Child, a junior from Taylor Mill, third in informative speaking at the City of Cedars tournament; second in informative speaking at the Forensics Roots tournament.
• Megan Armstrong, a senior from Morehead, fourth in informative speaking and fourth in persuasive speaking at the City of Cedars tournament; second in persuasive speaking at the Forensics Roots tournament.
• Emma Warnecke, a freshman from West Bloomfield, Michigan, fourth in poetry interpretation at the Forensics Roots tournament.
• Lily Nellans, a senior from Des Moines, Iowa, fifth in persuasive speaking at the City of Cedars tournament.

Results from the Carson-Newman/Belmont “Front Porch” Swing Tournaments are as follows:

• Nas Ali, a junior from Roseville, Minnesota, tournament champion in programmed oral interpretation and third in poetry interpretation at the Carson-Newman tournament; tournament champion in prose interpretation and fourth in poetry interpretation at the Belmont tournament.
• Symone Whalin, a freshman from Sonora, tournament champion in after-dinner speaking at the Carson-Newman tournament; fourth in after-dinner speaking at the Belmont tournament.
• Rickey Williams, a freshman from Minneapolis, Minnesota, tournament champion in prose interpretation and second in communication analysis at the Carson-Newman tournament; second in communication analysis and third in prose interpretation at the Belmont tournament.
• Corey Newsome, a freshman from Morehead, tournament champion in after-dinner speaking and sixth in dramatic interpretation at the Belmont tournament; third in after-dinner speaking at the Carson-Newman tournament.
• Quest Broussard, a freshman from Delcambre, Louisiana, second in dramatic interpretation at the Belmont tournament; sixth in dramatic interpretation at the Carson-Newman tournament.
• Diego Oropeza, a junior from El Paso, Texas, third in poetry interpretation and fifth in persuasive speaking at the Belmont tournament.
• Eli Lamb, a sophomore from Leesburg, Georgia, third in informative speaking and sixth in after-dinner speaking at the Belmont tournament.
• Tayland Ratliff, a freshman from Youngsville, Louisiana, fifth in dramatic interpretation at the Carson-Newman tournament.

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

Contact: Ganer Newman, (270) 745-6340