WKU News

WKU’s Forensics Team traveled to Saint Louis, Missouri, and DeKalb, Illinois, to take part in three tournaments the weekend of Jan. 27-28.

At the tournament in Saint Louis, hosted by Webster University, WKU’s team of 14 placed second in overall team sweepstakes, which combined individual events and debate, and third in individual events team sweepstakes. Competing schools included Ball State University, Truman State University, Central Michigan University and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

In Illinois, WKU’s team of 10 placed second in team sweepstakes at both tournaments. Other competing schools included Northwestern University, Bradley University, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Northern Illinois University.

Next weekend the team will split to compete at Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, and Murray, Kentucky.

Results from the Webster University “Gorlok Gala” are as follows:

• Alex Rivera, a sophomore from Newton, Kansas, top debate speaker, semifinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate and quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
• Claire Champagne, a sophomore from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, tournament champion in after-dinner speaking.
• Sabas Del Toro, a junior from El Paso, Texas, tournament champion in dramatic interpretation.
• Symone Whalin, a freshman from Sonora, second in poetry interpretation, third in after-dinner speaking and third in dramatic interpretation.
• Brian Anderson, a junior from Hodgenville, second in impromptu speaking, seventh debate speaker and octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
• Bailey Rung, a senior from Blaine, Minnesota, second debate speaker and octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
• Emma Warnecke, a freshman from West Bloomfield, Michigan, second in communication analysis.
• Corey Newsome, a freshman from Morehead, fifth in dramatic interpretation.
• Diego Martinez, a junior from El Paso, Texas, octofinalist in novice Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Results from the “Mid-America Forensic League 5 & 6 Tournaments” are as follows:

• Megan Armstrong, a senior from Morehead, tournament champion in informative speaking, second in impromptu speaking and sixth in communication analysis at the MAFL 6 tournament; fourth in persuasive speaking and fifth in communication analysis at the MAFL 5 tournament.
• Lane Hedrick, a junior from Morehead, tournament champion in extemporaneous speaking and fifth in persuasive speaking at the MAFL 6 tournament; second in extemporaneous speaking, second in communication analysis and sixth in impromptu speaking at the MAFL 5 tournament.
• Casey Child, a junior from Taylor Mill, tournament champion in persuasive speaking at the MAFL 6 tournament; second in prose interpretation and second in informative speaking at the MAFL 5 tournament.
• Bradley Wascher, a sophomore from Montgomery, Alabama, tournament champion in impromptu speaking at the MAFL 6 tournament; fifth in impromptu speaking at the MAFL 5 tournament.
• Mackenzie Birkey, a senior from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, second in persuasive speaking and second in dramatic interpretation at the MAFL 5 tournament; fourth in prose interpretation at the MAFL 6 tournament.
• Sean Diaz, a senior from El Paso, Texas, third in prose interpretation at the MAFL 6 tournament; fourth in prose interpretation at the MAFL 5 tournament.
• Natalie Hedberg, a junior from Chaska, Minnesota, fourth in informative speaking at the MAFL 6 tournament.
• Michael Rizzo, a senior from Weston, Florida, fourth in persuasive speaking at the MAFL 6 tournament.
• Faith LoPiccolo, a sophomore from Lexington, sixth in communication analysis at the MAFL 5 tournament.

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

Contact: Ganer Newman, (270) 745-6340