Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University’s Forensic Team placed first in individual events sweepstakes, debate sweepstakes and combined individual events and debate sweepstakes last weekend at the Purdue University "Boilermaker Invitational" in West Lafayette, Ind.

In the team's first event of the season, WKU placed ahead of Truman State University and Illinois State University to claim the overall title for the weekend.

Twenty-four members of the WKU team competed in the Sept. 16-18 tournament with the following students placing in the final rounds:

Joelle Perry, a Florence junior, tournament champion in extemporaneous speaking; top speaker in parliamentary debate; top seed in parliamentary debate; second in parliamentary debate (with partner Megan Schrader); second in impromptu speaking; quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Chris Brasfield, a Bowling Green senior, tournament champion in informative speaking; tournament champion in dramatic interpretation.

Saeed Jones, a sophomore from Lewisville, Texas, tournament champion in impromptu speaking; third in duo interpretation (with partner Ashley Litsey); quarterfinalist in parliamentary debate (with partner Lauren Nelson).

Cornelius Lee, a freshman from Killeen, Texas, tournament champion in duo interpretation (with partner J.D. VanSlyke).

J.D. VanSlyke, a freshman from Wylie, Texas, tournament champion in duo interpretation (with partner Cornelius Lee).

Luke Gilbert, a sophomore from Talbott, Tenn., second in informative speaking; fourth in prose interpretation.

Ashley Litsey, a Hodgenville freshman, third in duo interpretation (with partner Saeed Jones); fourth in dramatic interpretation.

Micah Mason, a freshman from Desoto, Texas, third in poetry interpretation; sixth in prose interpretation.

Justin Cress, a Florence senior, top seed in Lincoln-Douglas debate; semifinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate; 10th speaker in parliamentary debate.

Brian Bloss, a freshman from Coppell, Texas, semifinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate; octofinalist in parliamentary debate (with partner Keyon Shokraie).

Megan Schrader, a freshman from Lowell, Ark., top seed and second in parliamentary debate (with partner Joelle Perry).

Ryan Howell, a senior from Plymouth, Ind., second in programmed oral interpretation.

Logan Scisco, a Danville sophomore, second in extemporaneous speaking.

Audrey Covey, a freshman from Neosho, Mo., semifinalist in parliamentary debate (with partner James Colston).

James Colston, a freshman from Neosho, Mo., semifinalist in parliamentary debate (with partner Audrey Covey).

Joel Smith, a Murray sophomore, third in dramatic interpretation.

Ashley Brasfield, a Mayfield senior, third in programmed oral interpretation.

Ashley Burgdorf, a sophomore from Evansville, Ind., sixth in extemporaneous speaking.

David Tuck, a freshman from Alexandria, Va., sixth in poetry interpretation.

Lauren Nelson, a freshman from Wheaton, Ill., quarterfinalist in parliamentary debate (with partner Saeed Jones).

Keyon Shokraie, a freshman from Somis, Calif., octofinalist in parliamentary debate (with partner Brian Bloss).

More WKU news is available 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.