Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University's forensic team finished the 2005 season by defending its team sweepstakes championship in Lincoln-Douglas debate at this week's 35th annual National Forensic Association tournament.

"All 10 debaters are to be congratulated but it was our senior leadership that made this championship possible," Director of Forensics Judy Woodring said. "I can't say enough about seniors Jen Purcell, Jenny Corum and Hannah Reliford."

In debate competition, Western finished first with 86 points followed by Creighton with 74, Central Michigan with 72, University of Missouri-Columbia with 71 and Washburn University with 52. Western placed second in the individual events tournament behind Bradley University. Illinois State University, Arizona State University and Eastern Michigan University rounded out the top five schools.

The April 14-18 tournament in Akron, Ohio, drew entries from almost 100 universities.

"It was a stressful five days," Woodring said, "and the stress began to take toil on our debaters as they were still prepping for debate while competing in break rounds of individual events."

In the debate tournament, Florence sophomore Joelle Perry placed third in the nation. Four other WKU debaters placed among the nation's top 32. WKU claimed the debate tournament's top two speakers as Auburn senior Jennifer Corum was awarded top speaker and Jennifer Purcell, a senior from Lewisville, Texas, placed second. Georgetown senior Hannah Reliford and Florence junior Justin Cress placed ninth and 10th, respectively, in speaker awards.

The WKU team also claimed the top two tournament seeds, going undefeated in the six preliminary rounds. Perry was elected as the national student representative for Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Other members of the national champion debate team, which posted 39 wins in the six preliminary rounds at NFA, are: Ashley Burgdorf, a freshman from Evansville, Ind.; Justin Cress, a Florence junior; Chad Meadows, an Owensboro freshman; Hannah Reliford, a Georgetown senior; Gwen Son, a Princeton sophomore; and Jordon Wadlington, an Eddyville junior.

Lydia Nelson, a sophomore from Carver, Mass., was national champion in informative speaking and placed 13th in individual sweepstakes. Rebecca Simms, a Lebanon senior, placed fourth in individual sweepstakes. More than 1,500 competitors vied for the individual sweepstakes title. Simms also placed third in duo interpretation (with partner Elizabeth Au) and fifth in prose interpretation.

"We were plagued by illness and emergency room visits during most of the tournament," Woodring said. "I really don't know where these students found the strength to do what they did. It was amazing that we were able to have such a great finish to our season."

Western had 34 entries qualify for quarterfinal rounds with 19 of those entries advancing to the semifinal round of competition. National finalists in individual events include the following:

Elizabeth Au, a senior from Evansville, Ind., third in duo interpretation (with partner Rebecca Simms).

Nicole Hawk, an Upton junior, third in impromptu speaking.

Logan Scisco, a Danville freshman, third in extemporaneous speaking.

Joelle Perry, a Florence sophomore, fourth in impromptu speaking.

Natalie Sintek, a freshman from Eagan, Minn., fourth in after dinner speaking.

Courtney Wright, a junior from Evansville, Ind., sixth in persuasive speaking.

Caleb Williams, a senior from Lewisville, Texas, sixth in impromptu speaking.

AFA National results

The WKU forensic team placed fourth in the American Forensic Association National Individual events tournament held at Kansas State University. Individual results from the April 1-3 tournament are as follows:

Joelle Perry, a Florence sophomore, third in extemporaneous speaking and third in impromptu speaking.

Lydia Nelson, a sophomore from Carver, Mass., third in informative speaking and 13th in individual sweepstakes.

Ryan Howell, a junior from Plymouth, Ind., second in prose interpretation.

Caleb Williams, a senior from Lewisville, Texas, second in informative speaking.

Natalie Sintek, a freshman from Eagan, Minn., fourth in programmed oral interpretation.

Ashley Brasfield, a Mayfield junior, sixth in programmed oral interpretation.

Ben Unanaowo, a freshman from Union City, Calif., sixth in informative speaking.

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.

For information, contact Judy Woodring at (270) 745-6340.