WKU Forensic Team Hoping
To Make History Again In 2004
March 05, 2004
Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University's forensic team is talking about another history-making performance this year.
In 2003, the William E. Bivin Forensic Society completed an unprecedented sweep of the major national and international speech and debate titles. In 2004, the team is aiming to repeat those championships and add another title – national debate champions, forensic director Judy Woodring said.
"Last year we made history, but the one thing we didn't do was win the debate and individual sweepstakes titles at the National Forensic Association tournament so that's what we want to do this year," Woodring said. "If we're able to win those, once again we'll be making history and doing something that no other school has done."
All of Western's debaters have qualified for the NFA tournament. Woodring credits coach Doug Mory with having the team well-prepared to challenge for the national title.
"Doug is a brilliant debater and a great coach," she said. "He's brought them to the top."
Western's quest to repeat as international and national champions begins next weekend at the International Forensic Association tournament.
Twelve team members and two coaches will travel to Madrid, Spain, for the March 12-20 event. The tournament, which Western has won four times, includes debate and individual events.
This year two Western students – Evelio Silvera and Nick Romerhausen – will compete in a Spanish literature category, which is conducted in Spanish and will be judged by Spanish speaking judges. Silvera, a senior from Fort Myers, Fla., is Cuban and both of his parents speak Spanish. Romerhausen, a sophomore from Evansville, Ind., is a Spanish major.
In April, the WKU team will compete in the NFA tournament and the American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament.
The AFA tournament is April 2-5 at California State-Long Beach. The NFA tournament is April 15-19 at Western Illinois.
Woodring expects the team to contend again for national honors with WKU students qualified for 180 entries in NFA and 130 at AFA.
Last month, the team won its 14th consecutive Kentucky Forensic Association State Championship and had seven team members earn state championships. In the state debate competition, four WKU teams advanced to the semifinals and were named co-champions.
"Our team is solid," Woodring said. "We're excited about the opportunity to try and make history again."
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.
