WKU News

The WKU Forensics Team won the 2020 Kentucky Forensic Association State Tournament on Saturday (Feb. 22) at the University of Pikeville.

In the 13 speech categories, WKU students captured eight state titles. Junior Rickey Williams was recognized as the tournament’s top competitor in speech for his success across multiple events. Of the six students recognized for excellence in speech, five were from WKU.

WKU also swept both debate events, including a close-out (top two) of the state’s largest event: International Public Debate. Nine WKU students won speaker awards in debate, including senior Anthony Survance who was named the top speaker in NPDA Debate.

In recognition of these collective efforts, WKU won first place in Large School Sweepstakes in Individual Events and Debate and ultimately was crowned the Kentucky Forensics Association Grand Champion for the 28^th consecutive year.

WKU Director of Forensics Ganer Newman was proud of the team’s results. “Our students put in a lot of effort preparing for the state tournament, including learning new events we do not regularly compete in during the season,” he said.

Despite the state title, the season is far from over. “We are pleased with our state championship, but we remain focused on achieving all of our team goals. We have a lot of work to do to hold on to the AFA National Championship and to reclaim the NFA National Championship titles,” Newman said.

On Thursday (Feb. 27), the team will host its fourth annual Black Excellence Exposition. Next weekend, the team will travel to compete in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Results from the Kentucky Forensics Association State Tournament are as follows:

Debate

• IPDA Speaker Awards: Symone Whalin (9th), Derek Collins, (5th), Miles Morton (3rd), Alex Rivera (2nd)
• IPDA: Symone Whalin (Top 8), Miles Morton (Co-Champion), Alex Rivera (Co-Champion)
• NPDA Speaker Awards: Miles Morton (10th), Isaac Keller (8th), Madelynn Einhorn (6th), Ben Hanson (6th), Tess Welch (5th), Anthony Survance (1st)
• NPDA: Miles Morton and Symone Whalin (Top 4), Ben Hanson and Isaac Keller (Top 4), Anthony Survance and Alex Rivera (Champion)

Speech

• After Dinner Speaking: Ben Hanson (7th), Symone Whalin (5th), April Saysithi (3rd), Rickey Williams (2nd)
• Communication Analysis: Faith LoPiccolo (4th), Parker Anderson (2nd), Tess Welch (Champion)
• Dramatic Interpretation: Kelly Lingen (3rd), Tayland Ratliff (2nd), Rickey Williams (Champion)
• Duo Interpretation: Reese Johnson and Jo Headrick (5th), April Saysithi and Kelly Lingen (3rd), Paige Allbright and Tayland Ratliff (2nd)
• Editorial Impromptu: Alex Rivera (5th), Isaac Keller (3rd), Anthony Survance (2nd)
• Extemporaneous Speaking: Madelynn Einhorn 4, Ben Hanson 3, Anthony Survance (2nd), Tess Welch (Champion)
• Impromptu Speaking: Ben Hanson (5th), Miles Morton (4th), Andre Swai (3rd), Isaac Keller (Champion)
• Informative Speaking: Faith LoPiccolo (3rd), Parker Anderson (2nd)
• Persuasion: Parker Anderson (5th), Tayland Ratliff (4th), Symone Whalin (2nd), Paige Allbright (Champion)
• Poetry: Reese Johnson (Champion)
• Program Oral Interpretation: Faith LoPiccolo (5th), Kelly Lingen (4th), Derek Collins (2nd)
• Prose: April Saysithi (5th), Jo Headrick (4th), Rickey Williams (2nd), Reese Johnson (Champion)
• Radio Broadcasting: Jo Headrick (6th) Rickey Williams (5th), Kelly Lingen (2nd)

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

Contact: Ganer Newman, (270) 745-6340