WKU News

The WKU Forensics Team started the 2021-2022 season by hosting its annual virtual Fall Tournament the weekend of Sept. 24-26.  

Combining four tournaments into a single weekend, the event offered competition in debate and individual events over three days, hosting 25 schools from 15 states including Penn State University, the University of North Texas, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the University of Alabama. WKU students competed in the tournament, but as host the team was not eligible for team sweepstakes awards.

WKU Director of Forensics Ganer Newman expressed his gratitude to members of the WKU faculty and staff who helped judge the tournament. “Colleagues from all corners of the WKU campus community pitched in to judge the competition,” he said.

Newman also remarked on the involvement of alumni in the tournament. “Our alumni are scattered all over the country, and even the world, so traveling to campus to participate is usually cost prohibitive. Hosting the tournament virtually allowed dozens of alumni to volunteer as judges and reconnect with the team.”

Director of Debate Chad Meadows felt this was one of the debate program’s best starts in recent memory. “From the seniors chasing national success to the new students debating at their first tournament, everyone invested into our team first philosophy.  Seeing what we practice working in competition really helps motivate the students to keep pushing toward April.”

Along with hosting, WKU team members also competed at the Fall Tournament hosted by WKU and a virtual tournament hosted by the Mid America Forensics League (MAFL.) On Friday, the team competed in the Alexis Elliott Memorial Round Robin Debate Tournament, where each school entered their top competitors. WKU senior Tess Welch won the tournament. The students traded duties hosting and competing in the subsequent Saturday and Sunday events. Two team members were recognized as top three overall speakers at the tournament, with Tess Welch placing second and Miles Morton placing third overall.

“Over the course of the weekend,” Newman said, “our students won 20 event championships. It was a great way to start the season!”

Next week, the Hilltoppers will take a break from competition before gearing up for virtual tournaments hosted by the University of Alabama and Lewis and Clark College.

Results from the WKU Round Robin

• Alexis Elliot Memorial Round Robin: Tess Welch of Houston, Texas, 1st and winner of the Danny Ray Top Speaker Award; Andre Swai of Springfield, Missouri, 3rd speaker.
• Rising Stars Challenge: Avery Lenihan of Florence, Kentucky, 4th, and 2nd Speaker.

Results from the WKU Fall Tournament

• After Dinner Speaking: Racheal Akinbayo of Houston, Texas, 3rd; Christian Butterfield of Bowling Green, Kentucky, 4th; Dakota Perry of Morehead, Kentucky, 5th.
• Communication Analysis: Tani Washington of Henrico, Virginia, 1st; Caitlyn Woitena of Houston, Texas, 4th.
• Dramatic Interpretation: Paige Allbright of Youngsville, Louisiana, 1st; Mauricio Patino of Stockton, California, 2nd; Kellin Robinson of Roseville, Minnesota, 4th.
• Duo Interpretation: Jonah Johnson and Reese Johnson of Burnsville, Minnesota, 1st; Collin Tuerk of Morehead, Kentucky, and Noah Gordon of Pittsburg, California, 3rd; Rashon Leday of Lafayette, Louisiana, and Taylor Mier of Youngsville, Louisiana, 4th.
• Extemporaneous Speaking: Antonina Clementi of Lafayette, Louisiana, 2nd; Christian Butterfield, 3rd; Miles Morton of Sherman Oaks, California, 4th; Tess Welch of Houston, Texas, 5th.
• Impromptu Speaking: Joey Eberle of Maple Grove, Minnesota, 2nd; Christian Butterfield, 3rd; Tess Welch, 4th; Antonina Clementi, 6th.
• Informative Speaking: Samantha Sallee of Danville, Kentucky, 1st.
• Persuasive Speaking: Kelly Lingen of Lakeville, Minnesota, 3rd.
• Poetry Interpretation: Reggie Jefferson of Houston, Texas, 1st; Kelly Lingen, 3rd; Taylor Mier, 4th.
• Program Oral Interpretation: Paige Allbright, 1st; Jonah Johnson, 2nd.
• Prose Interpretation: Imanii Giles of Hodgenville, Kentucky, 1st.
• Open Lincoln Douglas Debate: Andre Swai of Springfield, Missouri, Co-Champion, Tess Welch, Co-Champion; Madelynn Einhorn of Oakwood, Ohio, Top 4; Tanya Prabhakar of Danville, California, Top 16.
• Open Lincoln Douglas Debate Speakers: Tess Welch, 2nd; Madelynn Einhorn, 3rd; Andre Swai, 8th; Tanya Prabhakar, 9th.
• Junior Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate: Avery Lenihan, 2nd; Antonina Clementi, Top 4.
• Junior Varsity Lincoln Douglas Speakers: Antonina Clementi, 3rd.
• Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate: Hannah Johnson of Bowling Green, Kentucky, 1st; Imam Brula of Bowling Green, Kentucky, Top 3.
• Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate Speakers: Hannah Johnson, 1st.

Results from the Mid America Forensics League #1

• After Dinner Speaking: Christian Butterfield, 2nd; Rachael Akinbayo, 3rd; Dakota Perry, 5th.
• Communication Analysis: Tani Washington, 1st; Caitlyn Woitena, 2nd.
• Dramatic Interpretation: Paige Allbright, 1st; Mauricio Patino, 2nd; Shainna Ralston of Eldorado, Illinois, 3rd; Kellin Robinson, 4th.
• Duo Interpretation: Jonah Johnson and Reese Johnson, 1st; Collin Tuerk and Noah Gordon, 2nd; Rashon Leday and Taylor Mier, 3rd.
• Extemporaneous Speaking: Antonina Clementi, 1st; Christian Butterfield, 4th.
• Impromptu Speaking: Christian Butterfield, 3rd; Tess Welch, 4th; Antonina Clementi, 6th.
• Informative Speaking: Samantha Sallee, 1st.
• Persuasive Speaking: Kelly Lingen, 1st.
• Poetry Interpretation: Reggie Jefferson, 1st; Kelly Lingen, 3rd; Taylor Mier, 5th.
• Program Oral Interpretation: Paige Allbright, 1st; Jonah Johnson, 2nd.
• Prose Interpretation: Paige Allbright, 1st; Shainna Ralston, 3rd; Imanii Giles, 5th; Reese Johnson, 6th.

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

Contact: Ganer Newman, (270) 745-6340