WKU News

The WKU Forensics Team’s debate squad of nine closed out the semifinal round and captured the top four spots to win the debate the weekend of Feb. 24-25 in Normal, Illinois. WKU acted as co-host to the tournament and was therefore ineligible for the team sweepstakes awards.

A group of eight also traveled to Peoria, placing third in team sweepstakes at two speech tournaments and advancing all students to at least one elimination round over the weekend. Other competing schools included Northwestern University, Illinois State University and Bradley University.

Next weekend, the team will travel to its final regular tournament of the year in Sacramento, California. After that the team will prepare for the string of national tournaments, the first of which will be the Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament in Nashville.

Results from the 5th Annual Illinois State University/Western Kentucky University “Big Red Bird” Tournament are as follows:

• Brian Anderson, a junior from Hodgenville, top debate speaker and co-champion in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
• Alex Rivera, a sophomore from Newton, Kansas, second debate speaker and co-champion in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
• Anthony Survance, a sophomore from Louisville, third debate speaker and co-champion in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
• Bailey Rung, a senior from Blaine, Minnesota, co-champion in Lincoln-Douglas debate
• Kelly Stone, a junior from Louisburg, Kansas, quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
• Emily Falica, a sophomore from Scottsville, quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Results from the Mid-America Forensic League Tournaments number 7 and 8 are as follows:

• Casey Child, a junior from Taylor Mill, tournament champion in programmed oral interpretation at the MAFL 7 tournament; second in programmed oral interpretation at the MAFL 8 tournament.
• Tayland Ratliff, a freshman from Youngsville, Louisiana, second in prose interpretation and second in dramatic interpretation at the MAFL 7 tournament; second in prose interpretation at the MAFL 8 tournament.
• Sabas Del Toro, a junior from El Paso, Texas, second in programmed oral interpretation at the MAFL 7 tournament; third in programmed oral interpretation and fifth in poetry interpretation at the MAFL 8 tournament.
• Lily Nellans, a senior from Des Moines, Iowa, second in persuasive speaking at the MAFL 7 tournament.
• Alyssa Wilhelm, a sophomore from Roseville, Minnesota, third in poetry interpretation at the MAFL 7 tournament; sixth in persuasive speaking at the MAFL 8 tournament.
• Bradley Wascher, a sophomore from Montgomery, Alabama, third in persuasive speaking and fifth in communication analysis at the MAFL 8 tournament.
• Matt Wisenden, a junior from Moorhead, Minnesota, fourth in poetry interpretation at the MAFL 8 tournament; fifth in poetry interpretation at the MAFL 7 tournament.
• Corey Newsome, a freshman from Morehead, fourth in dramatic interpretation at the MAFL 7 tournament.

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

Contact: Ganer Newman, (270) 745-6340