WKU News & Events

January 30, 2002

WKU Forensics Team Wins First
National Tourney Of The Year

Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University’s speech and debate took first place in overall sweepstakes and individual events sweepstakes at the National Collegiate Honorary Tournament in St. Louis.

The Jan. 26-28 tournament attracted many of top programs that are members of any of three national honor fraternities for forensics -- Delta Sigma Rho/Tau Kappa Alpha, Pi Kappa Delta and Phi Rho Pi.

Western’s William E. Bivin Forensic Society also finished as the top Delta Sigma Rho/Tau Kappa Alpha school and placed fourth in debate sweepstakes.

The following WKU team members placed in their events or received an excellence award for top 30 percent at the tournament:

Margaret Au, a sophomore from Evansville, Ind., first in duo interpretation, second in duo interpretation, fourth in informative speaking, fourth in poetry interpretation and semifinalist in dramatic interpretation and prose interpretation.

David Burns, a Bowling Green freshman, first in persuasive speaking, first in poetry interpretation, first in prose interpretation and fifth in dramatic interpretation.

Drew Allen, a sophomore from Brentwood, Tenn., first in duo interpretation, second in programmed oral interpretation, second in prose interpretation and semifinalist in after-dinner speaking.

Raegan Gibson, a junior from Evansville, Ind., co-champion in junior varsity Lincoln-Douglas debate, first in informative speaking, second in rhetorical criticism and junior varsity Lincoln-Douglas debate speaker points and semifinalist in persuasive speaking.

Nicole Estenfelder, a Florence freshman, third in duo interpretation and poetry interpretation, fourth in prose interpretation and fifth in persuasive speaking.

Corey Alderdice, a Water Valley sophomore, third in programmed oral interpretation, fifth in after-dinner speaking, fifth in duo interpretation, sixth in poetry interpretation and semifinalist in prose interpretation.

Jennifer Purcell, a freshman from Lewisville, Texas, second in extemporaneous speaking, fifth in informative speaking, seventh in parliamentary debate speaker points, quarterfinalist in parliamentary debate and excellence award in impromptu speaking.

Andrew Causey, a sophomore from Franklin, Tenn., third in prose interpretation, fifth in programmed oral interpretation and semifinalist in dramatic interpretation and duo interpretation.

Kate Hertweck, a freshman from Evansville, Ind., fourth in rhetorical criticism and semifinalist in informative speaking, Lincoln-Douglas debate and persuasive speaking.

Stacy Bernaugh, a Bowling Green junior, fifth in extemporaneous speaking and parliamentary debate speaker points, semifinalist in impromptu speaking and informative speaking and quarterfinalist in parliamentary debate.

David Wilkins, a Bardstown senior, first in extemporaneous speaking and sixth in impromptu speaking.

Elizabeth Au, a freshman from Evansville, Ind., sixth in prose interpretation and semifinalist in dramatic interpretation, duo interpretation and persuasive speaking.

Phillip Wininger, a Bowling Green senior, fifth in impromptu speaking, sixth in persuasive speaking and semifinalist in extemporaneous speaking.

Alisa Ponananta, a Florence senior, second in duo interpretation and semifinalist in programmed oral interpretation.

Caleb Williams, a freshman from Lewisville, Texas, first in pentathlon, semifinalist in duo interpretation, informative speaking, poetry interpretation and rhetorical criticism.

Eric Rogers, a Cave City junior, third in persuasive speaking, fifth in student congress and excellence awards in extemporaneous speaking and impromptu speaking.

Katie Tyree, a sophomore from Plymouth, Ind., fifth in duo interpretation, semifinalist in programmed oral interpretation and excellence award in prose interpretation.

Rebecca Simms, a Lebanon freshman, third in after-dinner speaking.

Joel Smith, a Murray freshman, third in duo interpretation.

Adam Henze, a freshman from Evansville, Ind., semifinalist in duo interpretation, poetry interpretation and prose interpretation.

Jeff Woods, a Florence freshman, fifth in pentathlon, semifinalist in persuasive speaking, programmed oral interpretation and rhetorical criticism.

Hannah Reliford, a Georgetown freshman, co-champion in junior varsity Lincoln-Douglas debate, first in junior varsity Lincoln-Douglas debate speaker points and excellence award in prose interpretation.

Sarah Sparks, a Morehead senior, second in student congress, a presiding officer in student congress and excellence awards in impromptu speaking and informative speaking.

Jenny Corum, an Auburn freshman, fourth in impromptu speaking.

Abby Lovan, a freshman from Jeffersonville, Ind., semifinalist in poetry interpretation and prose interpretation.

Shameka Neely, a junior from Hermitage, Tenn., sixth in dramatic interpretation and excellence award in prose interpretation.

David Laing, a Louisville senior, semifinalist in persuasive speaking and excellence awards in impromptu speaking and student congress.

Jenny Hyatt, a Cynthiana freshman, semifinalist in after-dinner speaking.