WKU Forensic Team Wins
AFA National Tournament
April 08, 2003
Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University's forensic team has claimed its third major championship of the year by winning the American Forensic Association National Individual Events Tournament.
Western became the first school other than Bradley or Texas to win the title since 1980. WKU was first with 343 points followed by Texas with 280, Alabama with 276.5, Bradley with 274.5 and West Texas A&M with 239.
"There's nothing I can say that can recapture the moment when our name was announced as winner," said Judy Woodring, forensic director. "It's hard for mere words to describe what a wonderful moment in history this was for our team and our university."
Western's William E. Bivin Forensic Society placed 32 entries in quarterfinals and 15 in semifinals at the AFA tourney, both more than any other school in attendance. The April 4-7 competition attracted 89 colleges and universities and more than 1,500 entries to the University of Mississippi in Oxford.
"When we became part of Western's program of distinction, we were given the charge that we needed to become nationally and internationally prominent. You can't get much better than first in the nation and first in the world," she said. "We accomplished that goal, but now the challenge is to sustain this level of excellence."
WKU has already won this year's International Forensics Association title and the Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha National Tournament. The team will aim for an unprecedented sweep of major championships April 17-21 at National Forensics Association speech and debate tournament at Ball State University.
"We've already accomplished something that no one else has ever done," Woodring said.
Individual results from the AFA tourney are as follows:
Drew Allen, a junior from Brentwood, Tenn., fifth in prose interpretation, ninth in individual sweepstakes, semifinalist in after-dinner speaking, duo interpretation (with David Burns) and poetry interpretation.
Keith Blaser, a senior from Evansville, Ind., fifth in poetry interpretation, 17th in individual sweepstakes, semifinalist in after-dinner speaking, quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Jacob Peregoy) and prose interpretation.
Caleb Williams, a sophomore from Lewisville, Texas, fourth in after-dinner speaking, quarterfinalist in impromptu speaking, informative speaking and persuasive speaking.
Adam Henze, a sophomore from Evansville, Ind., sixth in poetry interpretation, quarterfinalist in programmed oral interpretation.
Evelio Silvera, a junior from Fort Myers, Fla., fifth in extemporaneous speaking.
David Burns, a sophomore from Dayton, Ohio, semifinalist in duo interpretation (with Drew Allen) and poetry interpretation, quarterfinalist in prose interpretation.
Rebecca Simms, a Lebanon sophomore, semifinalist in poetry interpretation, quarterfinalist in after-dinner speaking and programmed oral interpretation.
Courtney Smith, a junior from Downers Grove, Ill., semifinalist in prose interpretation, quarterfinalist in after-dinner speaking.
Stacy Bernaugh, a senior from Seaside, Calif., semifinalist in impromptu speaking.
Chris Brasfield, a Fulton freshman, semifinalist in poetry interpretation.
Jennifer Purcell, a sophomore from Lewisville, Texas, semifinalist in extemporaneous speaking.
Jacob Peregoy, a sophomore from Evansville, Ind., quarterfinalist in after-dinner speaking, duo interpretation (with Keith Blaser) and poetry interpretation.
Elizabeth Au, a sophomore from Evansville, Ind., quarterfinalist in programmed oral interpretation.
Margaret Au, a junior from Evansville, Ind., quarterfinalist in programmed oral interpretation.
Tony Damico, a Phoenix junior, quarterfinalist in after-dinner speaking.
Nicole Estenfelder, a Florence sophomore, quarterfinalist in prose interpretation.
Lindsey Nave, a junior from Harrisburg, Ill., quarterfinalist in communication analysis.
For more information, contact Judy Woodring, forensics director, at (270) 745-6340. More WKU news is available on the World Wide Web at www.wku.edu. If you'd like to receive WKU news via E-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
