WKU News

WKU’s Forensics Team traveled to Lebanon, Illinois, and Murray to take part in four tournaments the weekend of Feb. 8-9.

The squad of 10 in Illinois won the team sweepstakes on Saturday and placed second on Sunday. In addition, all students advanced to at least one elimination round. Other competing schools included Bradley University, Northwest Missouri State University and Webster University.

In Murray, WKU won the Small Entry team sweepstakes championship at both tournaments. Other competing schools included the University of Alabama, Ball State University, North Central College, Berea College and Tennessee State University. In addition, all members of the team advanced to an elimination round in at least one event.

Next weekend the team will travel to Illinois State University to co-host and compete. Following that, the team will travel to the 47th Annual Kentucky Forensic Association State Tournament in Pikeville to defend the state title.

Results from McKendree University/Eastern Illinois University “Purrfect Pals Swing” tournament are as follows:

• Madelynn Einhorn, a sophomore from Oakwood, Ohio, tournament champion in extemporaneous speaking and tournament champion in impromptu speaking at the Sunday tournament; second in impromptu speaking and second in extemporaneous speaking at the Saturday tournament.
• Rickey Williams, a junior from Minneapolis, Minnesota, tournament champion in prose interpretation and tournament champion in dramatic interpretation at the Saturday tournament; tournament champion in prose interpretation and tournament champion in dramatic interpretation at the Sunday tournament.
• Amanda Langford, a sophomore from Goodlettsville, Tennessee, tournament champion in persuasive speaking and fourth in prose interpretation at the Saturday tournament; tournament champion in persuasive speaking at the Sunday tournament.
• Ryan Gosling, a junior from West Palm Beach, Florida, tournament champion in programmed oral interpretation and second in duo interpretation (with Daliss Hicks) at the Saturday tournament; tournament champion in programmed oral interpretation at the Sunday tournament.
• Daliss Hicks, a freshman from Miramar, Florida, tournament champion in duo interpretation (with Warren Forstmann) at the Sunday tournament; second in programmed oral interpretation, second in duo interpretation (with Ryan Gosling) and third in duo interpretation (with Warren Forstmann) at the Saturday tournament.
• Symone Whalin, a junior from Sonora, tournament champion in impromptu speaking and second in persuasive speaking at the Saturday tournament.
• Rahmane Dixon, a junior from Houston, Texas, tournament champion in communication analysis and second in dramatic interpretation at the Saturday tournament.
• Warren Forstmann, a freshman from Hollywood, Florida, tournament champion in duo interpretation (with Daliss Hicks) at the Sunday tournament; third in duo interpretation (with Daliss Hicks) at the Saturday tournament.
• Reese Johnson, a sophomore from Burnsville, Minnesota, tournament champion in poetry interpretation and fourth in duo interpretation (with Corey Newsome) at the Saturday tournament.
• Corey Newsome, a junior from Morehead, fourth in informative speaking, fourth in duo interpretation (with Reese Johnson) and sixth in persuasive speaking at the Saturday tournament.

Results from the Murray State “Ruby C. Krider” and Murray Alumni Swing are as follows:

• Tayland Ratliff, a junior from Youngsville, Louisiana, tournament champion in duo interpretation (with Paige Allbright) at the Saturday tournament; tournament champion in dramatic interpretation and tournament champion in duo interpretation (with Paige Allbright) at the Sunday tournament.
• Paige Allbright, a sophomore from Youngsville, Louisiana, tournament champion in duo interpretation (with Tayland Ratliff) at the Saturday tournament; tournament champion in duo interpretation (with Tayland Ratliff) at the Sunday tournament.
• Zakkiyah Sanders, a junior from Apple Valley, Minnesota, tournament champion in after-dinner speaking at the Saturday tournament; third in after-dinner speaking at the Sunday tournament.
• Derek Collins, a junior from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, tournament champion in communication analysis at the Saturday tournament.
• April Saysithi, a freshman from St. Michael, Minnesota, second in duo interpretation (with Kelly Lingen) and sixth in after-dinner speaking at the Saturday tournament; second in duo interpretation (with Kelly Lingen) and fourth in prose interpretation at the Sunday tournament.
• Kelly Lingen, a sophomore from Lakeville, Minnesota, second in after-dinner speaking, second in duo interpretation (with April Saysithi) and sixth in dramatic interpretation at the Saturday tournament; second in duo interpretation (with April Saysithi) at the Sunday tournament.
• Faith LoPiccolo, a senior from Lexington, second in programmed oral interpretation at the Saturday tournament; third in programmed oral interpretation at the Sunday tournament.
• Bradley Wascher, a senior from Montgomery, Alabama, second in editorial impromptu and fifth in radio broadcasting at the Saturday tournament.
• Miles Morton, a freshman from Sherman Oaks, California, second in impromptu speaking at the Saturday tournament.
• Caitlyn Woitena, a freshman from Houston, Texas, third in communication analysis at the Saturday tournament; fourth in persuasive speaking and fifth in communication analysis at the Sunday tournament.
• Andre Swai, a freshman from Springfield, Missouri, third in novice impromptu speaking at the Saturday tournament.

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

Contact: Ganer Newman, (270) 745-6340