WKU News

Debaters from WKU’s Forensics Team traveled to Saint Louis, Missouri, to compete at the Webster University “Gorlok Gala” the weekend of Jan 24-26.

WKU’s team of eight captured the top three ranks in Lincoln-Douglas, with sophomore Madelynn Einhorn declared the champion. WKU competed against 38 other teams at what is regarded as the largest and most competitive Lincoln-Douglas debate tournament in the nation, and a reasonable predictor of results at the national tournament in April. The last time WKU closed out the final round of debate at this tournament was 2017; the same year that WKU also closed out the final round at the NFA National Tournament.

Next weekend the team will travel to Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, to compete at the “Illini Stars” speech tournament.

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

• Madelynn Einhorn, a sophomore from Oakwood, Ohio, tournament co-champion in Lincoln-Douglas debate and 10^th debate speaker.
• Anthony Survance, a senior from Louisville, tournament co-champion in Lincoln-Douglas debate and second debate speaker.
• Alex Rivera, a senior from Newton, Kansas, tournament co-champion in Lincoln-Douglas debate, fifth debate speaker and semifinalist in impromptu speaking.
• Symone Whalin, a junior from Sonora, tournament champion in impromptu speaking.
• Isaac Keller, a junior from Kansas City, Missouri, top debate speaker and quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
• Ben Hanson, a sophomore from Louisville, semifinalist in impromptu speaking and octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
• Tess Welch, a sophomore from Houston, Texas, seventh debate speaker and octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

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

Contact: Ganer Newman, (270) 745-6340