Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University's forensic team began the new year with a pair of decisive victories, placing first in overall sweepstakes ahead of more than 30 schools in both portions of the Bradley University/University of Texas-Austin Swing last weekend in Austin, Texas.

The tournament is considered the nation's premier individual events invitational and featured as many as 140 competitors in each event.

Freshman Natalie Sintek was the combined individual sweepstakes champion for the swing, capturing three first-place finishes. Four other WKU team members also won first-place honors in tournament events.

The WKU squad finished ahead of Illinois State, California State-Long Beach, George Mason and other schools at the Jan. 8-9 tournaments.

Individual results from the Bradley University/University of Texas-Austin Swing are as follows:

Natalie Sintek, a freshman from Eagan, Minn., tournament champion in prose interpretation, semifinalist in duo interpretation (with partner Lydia Nelson) in the UT-Austin portion; tournament champion in individual sweepstakes, tournament champion in duo interpretation (with Nelson), tournament champion in programmed oral interpretation, third in after-dinner speaking, semifinalist in dramatic interpretation in the Bradley portion.

Lydia Nelson, a sophomore from Carver, Mass., semifinalist in duo interpretation (with partner Natalie Sintek), semifinalist in programmed oral interpretation in the UT-Austin portion; tournament champion in duo interpretation (with Sintek), tournament champion in persuasive speaking, third in individual sweepstakes in the Bradley portion.

Caleb Williams, a senior from Lewisville, Texas, tournament champion in informative speaking in the UT-Austin portion; tournament champion in informative speaking, fifth in impromptu speaking in the Bradley portion.

Courtney Wright, a junior from Evansville, Ind., tournament champion in duo interpretation (with partner Adam Henze), sixth in prose interpretation, semifinalist in poetry interpretation in the UT-Austin portion; second in duo interpretation (with Henze), fourth in informative speaking, semifinalist in after dinner speaking in the Bradley portion.

Adam Henze, a senior from Evansville, Ind., tournament champion in duo interpretation (with partner Courtney Wright) in the UT-Austin portion; second in duo interpretation (with Wright), next out in poetry interpretation in the Bradley portion.

Rebecca Simms, a Lebanon senior, semifinalist in persuasive speaking, semifinalist in communication analysis, semifinalist in prose interpretation in the UT-Austin portion; second in programmed oral interpretation, fourth in persuasive speaking, fifth in poetry interpretation, sixth in individual sweepstakes in the Bradley portion.

Ryan Howell, a junior from Plymouth, Ind., second in programmed oral interpretation, fifth in informative speaking, sixth in poetry interpretation in the UT-Austin portion; sixth in informative speaking, semifinalist in programmed oral interpretation, semifinalist in poetry interpretation, semifinalist in after dinner speaking in the Bradley portion.

Joelle Perry, a Florence sophomore, third in extemporaneous speaking, next out in impromptu speaking in the UT-Austin portion; second in extemporaneous speaking, third in impromptu speaking in the Bradley portion.

Chris Brasfield, a Bowling Green junior, fifth in communication analysis, semifinalist in programmed oral interpretation, semifinalist in dramatic interpretation, semifinalist prose interpretation in the UT-Austin portion; fifth in programmed oral interpretation, semifinalist in duo interpretation (with partner Ashley Brasfield), semifinalist in communication analysis in the Bradley portion.

Grace Bruenderman, a Lexington junior, fourth in after dinner speaking, semifinalist in extemporaneous speaking in the UT-Austin portion; sixth in communication analysis, semifinalist in after dinner speaking, semifinalist in persuasive speaking in the Bradley portion.

Nick Romerhausen, a junior from Evansville, Ind., semifinalist in after dinner speaking, semifinalist in communication analysis, semifinalist in informative speaking in the UT-Austin portion; fourth in communication analysis, semifinalist in extemporaneous speaking, next out in informative speaking in the Bradley portion.

Ashley Brasfield, a Mayfield junior, semifinalist in programmed oral interpretation, semifinalist in communication analysis in the UT-Austin portion; sixth in programmed oral interpretation, semifinalist in duo interpretation (with partner Chris Brasfield) in the Bradley portion.

Melissa Messer, a San Antonio sophomore, semifinalist in informative speaking in the UT-Austin portion; second in after dinner speaking in the Bradley portion.

Benjamin Pyle, a freshman from Harrisburg, Ill., semifinalist in duo interpretation (with partner Maggie Waid) in the UT-Austin portion; fourth in dramatic interpretation in the Bradley portion.

Elizabeth Au, a senior from Evansville, Ind., semifinalist in informative speaking in the UT-Austin portion; semifinalist in informative speaking in the Bradley portion.

Saeed Jones, a freshman from Lewisville, Texas, semifinalist in dramatic interpretation in the UT-Austin portion; semifinalist in poetry interpretation in the Bradley portion.

Maggie Waid, a Symsonia freshman, semifinalist in duo interpretation (with partner Benjamin Pyle) in the UT-Austin portion; semifinalist in dramatic interpretation in the Bradley portion.

Adam Huegel, a freshman from Rosenberg, Texas, semifinalist in impromptu speaking, semifinalist in informative speaking in the Bradley portion.

Benjamin Unanaowo, a freshman from Union City, Calif., semifinalist in persuasive speaking, next out in informative speaking in the UT-Austin portion.

Chad Meadows, an Owensboro freshman, semifinalist in impromptu speaking, next out in communication analysis in the Bradley portion.

Jeff Woods, a Florence senior, semifinalist in persuasive speaking in the UT-Austin 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.