Bowling Green, Ky. - Members of Western Kentucky University's forensic team traveled to three locations for speech and debate tournaments Jan. 30-Feb. 1.

Team members traveled to Clemson, S.C., to compete at the American Forensics Association (AFA) District 6 Qualifier and the Clemson University Invitational. The WKU individual events squad placed first ahead of the University of Alabama, Clemson University and University of Florida in both tournaments.

Elizabeth Au, a senior from Evansville, Ind., was selected to represent District 6 on the 2005 AFA All-American team. All-Americans, who are chosen by the district coaches, are selected not only for excellence in forensics, but for commitment to academics and community service. Au is the first WKU team member to be named to the All-American team.

Team members also competed in a debate and individual events tournament at the Webster University "Gorlock" Invitational in St. Louis. The squad took first in both overall and debate sweepstakes. The team was also named the top Pi Kappa Delta school.

A third group competed in two individual events tournaments at the Kansas State University/University of Nebraska-Lincoln Swing in Manhattan, Kan. WKU placed second in debate sweepstakes behind Creighton.

Individual results for the AFA District 6 Qualifier/Clemson Invitational are as follows:

Elizabeth Au, a senior from Evansville, Ind., tournament champion in programmed oral interpretation, second in prose in the AFA qualifier; tournament champion in programmed oral interpretation, second in prose interpretation, third in persuasive speaking in the Clemson tournament.

Ashley Brasfield, a Mayfield junior, tournament champion in prose interpretation, fourth in communication analysis in the AFA qualifier; tournament champion in prose interpretation, second in communication analysis, sixth in dramatic interpretation in the Clemson tournament.

Chris Brasfield, a Bowling Green junior, tournament champion in informative speaking, second in poetry interpretation in the AFA qualifier; second in informative speaking in the Clemson tournament.

Courtney Wright, a junior from Evansville, Ind., second in informative speaking in the AFA qualifier; tournament champion in informative speaking, sixth in duo interpretation (with partner Benjamin Pyle) in the Clemson tournament.

Nicole Hawk, an Upton junior, tournament champion in extemporaneous speaking in the AFA qualifier; second in extemporaneous speaking in the Clemson tournament.

Nicole Estenfelder, a Florence senior, tournament champion in poetry interpretation, sixth in duo interpretation (with partner Caitlin Drance) in the AFA qualifier.

Adam Henze, a senior from Evansville, Ind., second in duo interpretation (with partner Ryan Howell), fourth in poetry interpretation in the AFA qualifier; third in duo interpretation (with Howell), fifth in after dinner speaking in the Clemson tournament.

Jeff Woods, a Florence senior, fourth in informative speaking in the AFA qualifier; third in informative speaking, third in communication analysis, fourth in impromptu speaking in the Clemson tournament.

Ben Unanaowo, a freshman from Union City, Calif., fourth in duo interpretation (with partner Saeed Jones), sixth in persuasive speaking in the AFA qualifier; fifth in duo interpretation (with Jones), fifth in persuasive speaking in the Clemson tournament.

Ryan Howell, a junior from Plymouth, Ind., second in duo interpretation (with partner Adam Henze), fourth in poetry interpretation in the AFA qualifier; third in duo interpretation (with Henze) in the Clemson tournament.

Melissa Messer, a San Antonio sophomore, third in communication analysis, third in impromptu speaking in the AFA qualifier; sixth in communication analysis in the Clemson tournament.

Caitlin Drance, a Florence freshman, sixth in duo interpretation (with partner Nicole Estenfelder) in the AFA qualifier; fourth in prose interpretation, fourth in dramatic interpretation in the Clemson tournament.

Adam Heugel, a freshman from Rosenberg, Texas, fifth in persuasive speaking, fifth in after dinner speaking in the AFA qualifier; third in after dinner speaking in the Clemson tournament.

Ashley Burgdorf, a freshman from Evansville, Ind., fourth in extemporaneous speaking in the AFA qualifier; third in extemporaneous speaking in the Clemson tournament.

Saeed Jones, a freshman from Lewisville, Texas, fourth in duo interpretation (with partner Ben Unanaowo) in the AFA qualifier; fifth in duo interpretation (with Unanaowo) in the Clemson tournament.

Jacqueline Adams, a Bowling Green sophomore, fifth in programmed oral interpretation, fifth in dramatic interpretation in the AFA qualifier.

Jordon Carr, a Water Valley freshman, sixth in communication analysis in the AFA qualifier; fifth in extemporaneous speaking in the Clemson tournament.

Grace Bruenderman, a Lexington junior, second in communication analysis in the AFA qualifier.

Barry Fields, a Bowling Green sophomore, third in impromptu speaking in the Clemson tournament.

Maggie Waid, a Symsonia freshman, third in prose interpretation in the Clemson tournament.

Benjamin Pyle, a freshman from Harrisburg, Ill., sixth in duo interpretation (with partner Courtney Wright) in the Clemson tournament.

Individual results for the Webster Invitational are as follows:

Jennifer Purcell, a senior from Lewisville, Texas, tournament champion in Lincoln-Douglas debate, tournament champion in extemporaneous speaking, second speaker in parliamentary debate, fifth speaker in Lincoln-Douglas debate, octofinalist in parliamentary debate (with partner Joelle Perry), fifth in impromptu speaking.

Jennifer Corum, an Auburn senior, tournament champion in parliamentary debate (with partner Justin Cress), third speaker in parliamentary debate, third speaker in Lincoln-Douglas debate, excellence award in impromptu speaking.

Justin Cress, a Florence junior, tournament champion in parliamentary debate (with partner Jennifer Corum), sixth speaker in parliamentary debate, quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Joelle Perry, a Florence sophomore, first speaker in Lincoln-Douglas debate, second in impromptu speaking, quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate, 10th speaker in parliamentary debate, quarterfinalist in parliamentary debate (with partner Jennifer Purcell).

Hannah Reliford, a Georgetown senior, fourth speaker in Lincoln-Douglas debate, quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate, octofinalist in parliamentary debate (with partner Caleb Williams).

Caleb Williams, a senior from Lewisville, Texas, sixth in impromptu speaking, octofinalist in parliamentary debate (with partner Hannah Reliford).

Gwen Son, a Princeton sophomore, semifinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Chad Meadows, an Owensboro freshman, fourth in communication analysis, excellence award in extemporaneous speaking.

Individual results for the Kansas State/Nebraska-Lincoln Swing are as follows:

Lydia Nelson, a sophomore from Carver, Mass., tournament champion in after dinner speaking, tournament champion in persuasive speaking, semifinalist in informative speaking in the K-State portion; second in after dinner speaking, second in persuasive speaking, third in prose interpretation in the Nebraska portion.

Rebecca Simms, a Lebanon senior, semifinalist in prose interpretation, semifinalist in persuasive speaking in the K-State portion; fourth in after dinner speaking, semifinalist in programmed oral interpretation in the Nebraska portion.

Nick Romerhausen, a junior from Evansville, Ind., semifinalist in informative speaking in the K-State portion; fifth in extemporaneous speaking in the Nebraska portion.

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.