Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University's forensic team won its sixth International Forensics Association championship this week.

Four members of Western's speech and debate team won international championships as WKU edged Texas Southern University 81-79 to win the overall title. Western also won the debate team sweepstakes at the tournament held on a cruise ship in the Caribbean off the coast of Mexico.

Texas Southern students filled 77 slots in the tournament events compared to 26 for Western. "Quality can beat quantity any day of the week," forensics director Judy Woodring said. "I'm very proud of this small group of students for pulling this off in the manner they did."

WKU's forensic team is attempting to sweep the major international and national championships for the third consecutive year. In 2004, Western made history by becoming the first team to win the National Forensic Association's individual events and debate titles as well as IFA and American Forensics Association-National Individual Events Tournament titles.

Team members will compete in the AFA tournament on April 1-4 at Kansas State University and the NFA tournament on April 14-18 at the University of Akron. Earlier this year, WKU won its 15th consecutive Kentucky Forensic Association State Championship.

Individual results from the IFA tournament are as follows:

Lydia Nelson, a sophomore from Carver, Mass., first in parliamentary debate (with partner Nick Romerhausen), first in after-dinner speaking, second in informative speaking.

Nick Romerhausen, a junior from Evansville, Ind., first in parliamentary debate (with partner Lydia Nelson), first in persuasive speaking, third in after-dinner speaking, sixth in impromptu speaking.

Ryan Howell, a junior from Plymouth, Ind., third in prose interpretation, fourth in programmed oral interpretation, fourth in informative speaking, fifth in after-dinner speaking.

Saeed Jones, a freshman from Lewisville, Texas, second in programmed oral interpretation, second in impromptu speaking, fourth in parliamentary debate (with partner Chris Brasfield).

Rebecca Simms, a Lebanon senior, second in prose interpretation, second in poetry interpretation, third in persuasive speaking.

Chris Brasfield, a Bowling Green junior, first in duo interpretation (with partner Ashley Brasfield), fourth in prose interpretation, fourth in parliamentary debate (with partner Saeed Jones).

Ashley Brasfield, a Mayfield junior, first in duo interpretation (with partner Chris Brasfield), second in persuasive 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.