WKU News

Members of the WKU Forensics Team earned team sweepstakes championships at the American Forensic Association District-Six National Qualifying Tournament/"Black Warrior" Invitational (top) and shared the top three placings in debate at the Illinois State University/WKU “Big Red Bird” Tournament (bottom).

The WKU Forensics Team traveled to both Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Normal, Illinois, to take part in three tournaments the weekend of Feb. 16-17.

At the American Forensic Association District-Six National Qualifying Tournament, hosted on the campus of the University of Alabama, WKU earned the team sweepstakes championships at both of the tournaments. In all, the WKU team walked away with 12 individual event championships. Other competing schools included the University of Alabama, the University of Florida and Florida State University. The tournament on Saturday was the regional qualifier tournament for the American Forensic Association national tournament, which allows teams to qualify students later in the year who may not have had an opportunity to qualify at-large earlier in the competition season.

In Illinois, WKU closed out the final round of debate, sharing the three top placings. The team was not eligible for a sweepstakes trophy, however, as WKU was co-hosting the tournament. Other competing schools included the University of Illinois-Urbana Champagne, Marshall University and the University of Northern Iowa.

Next weekend the team will travel to the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, to compete in two tournaments.

Results from the District-6 AFA Qualifier/”Black Warrior” Invitational are as follows:

• Corey Newsome, a sophomore from Morehead, tournament champion in prose interpretation, tournament champion in dramatic interpretation, tournament champion in poetry interpretation and tournament champion in duo interpretation (with Ryan Gosling) at the District 6 qualifier; tournament champion in prose interpretation and second in dramatic interpretation at the Black Warrior tournament.
• Zakkiyah Sanders, a sophomore from Apple Valley, Minnesota, tournament champion in after-dinner speaking and second in duo interpretation (with Rickey Williams) at the District 6 qualifier; tournament champion in after-dinner speaking at the Black Warrior tournament.
• Ryan Gosling, a sophomore from West Palm Beach, Florida, tournament champion in programmed oral interpretation and tournament champion in duo interpretation (with Corey Newsome) at the District 6 qualifier.
• Natalie Hedberg, a senior from Chaska, Minnesota, tournament champion in persuasive speaking and third in poetry interpretation at the District 6 qualifier; third in extemporaneous speaking at the Black Warrior tournament.
• Symone Whalin, a sophomore from Sonora, tournament champion in informative speaking at the District 6 qualifier; second in impromptu speaking at the Black Warrior tournament.
• Ashlyn Jones, a sophomore from Lafayette, Louisiana, tournament champion in impromptu speaking, second in extemporaneous speaking and third in persuasive speaking at the Black Warrior tournament.
• Parker Anderson, a freshman from Hodgenville, tournament champion in impromptu speaking and sixth in informative speaking at the District 6 qualifier; fourth in impromptu speaking and fourth in after-dinner speaking at the Black Warrior tournament.
• Emma Warnecke, a sophomore from West Bloomfield, Michigan, second in informative speaking and second in poetry interpretation at the District 6 qualifier; second in informative speaking at the Black Warrior tournament.
• Paige Allbright, a freshman from Youngsville, Louisiana, second in prose interpretation at the Black Warrior tournament; third in prose interpretation, third in dramatic interpretation and fourth in after-dinner speaking at the District 6 qualifier.
• Rickey Williams, a sophomore from Minneapolis, Minnesota, second in communication analysis and second in duo interpretation (with Zakkiyah Sanders) at the District 6 qualifier.
• Tayland Ratliff, a sophomore from Youngsville, Louisiana, second in persuasive speaking at the Black Warrior tournament; fourth in persuasive speaking at the District 6 qualifier.
• Jessica Duncan, a freshman from Arnaudville, Louisiana, third in persuasive speaking and sixth in after-dinner speaking at the District 6 qualifier; third in dramatic interpretation at the Black Warrior tournament.
• Kelly Lingen, a freshman from Lakeville, Minnesota, third in after-dinner speaking at the District 6 qualifier; fifth in after-dinner speaking at the Black Warrior tournament.
• Amanda Langford, a freshman from Goodlettsville, Tennessee, third in informative speaking at the District 6 qualifier; sixth in prose interpretation at the Black Warrior tournament.
• Matt Wisenden, a senior from Moorhead, Minnesota, fourth in prose interpretation at the District 6 qualifier.

Results from the 6th Annual Illinois State University/WKU “Big Red Bird” Tournament are as follows:

• Madelynn Einhorn, a freshman from Oakwood, Ohio, tournament co-champion in Lincoln-Douglas debate and top debate speaker.
• Isaac Keller, a sophomore from Kansas City, Missouri, tournament co-champion in Lincoln-Douglas debate and second debate speaker.
• Tess Welch, a freshman from Houston, Texas, tournament co-champion in Lincoln-Douglas debate and third debate speaker.

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

Contact: Ganer Newman, (270) 745-6340