Bowling Green, Ky. - The 2006 American Forensic Association National Individual Events Tournament proved to be a competition of firsts as Western Kentucky University’s forensic team won its third national team sweepstakes title in four years.
For the first time, WKU team members won individual championships in the AFA national tournament. Natalie Sintek, a sophomore from Eagan, Minn., claimed the national individual sweepstakes award while Ashley Brasfield, a Mayfield senior, won the AFA national championship in dramatic interpretation.
With 432.5 sweepstakes points, WKU topped 92 other schools in the April 1-3 tournament hosted by the University of Florida. Rounding out the top 10 team finishes were: University of Texas-Austin (371.5), Bradley University (307.5), Illinois State University (277), University of Alabama (267.5), Kansas State University (247.5), Arizona State University (238.5), George Mason University (223), University of Nebraska-Lincoln (216) and California State University-Long Beach (170).
Sintek, the first WKU team member to win the national individual sweepstakes award, defeated 197 competitors to win the title and is the first to claim the award as a sophomore. Only students who compete in four or more events are considered for the title.
As a team, WKU advanced more than half of its entry to the break rounds of competition and had a total of nine national finalists.
Director of Forensics Judy Woodring expressed the team’s excitement in bringing the national title back to Bowling Green. “Just a few years ago nobody had heard of Western Kentucky University forensics. Now we have become the team to beat,” she said.
WKU, which won its seventh International Forensic Association title last month, looks to complete a sweep of national titles at the National Forensic Association national tournament April 14-17 in Eau Claire, Wis.
Individual results from the AFA national tournament are as follows:
Natalie Sintek, a sophomore from Eagan, Minn., national individual sweepstakes champion, second in programmed oral interpretation, second in duo interpretation (with partner Lydia Nelson), fifth in prose interpretation, semifinalist in after dinner speaking, quarterfinalist in dramatic interpretation.
Ashley Brasfield, a Mayfield senior, national champion in dramatic interpretation, quarterfinalist in communication analysis.
Lydia Nelson, a junior from Carver, Mass., second in duo interpretation (with partner Natalie Sintek), third in after dinner speaking, fifth in individual sweepstakes, semifinalist in duo interpretation (with partner Ryan Howell).
Chris Brasfield, a Bowling Green senior, sixth in persuasive speaking, semifinalist in informative speaking, quarterfinalist in programmed oral interpretation, 20th in individual sweepstakes.
Joelle Perry, a Florence junior, sixth in extemporaneous speaking, semifinalist in impromptu speaking.
Benjamin Pyle, a sophomore from Harrisburg, Ill., fifth in duo interpretation (with partner Rachel Wigginton).
Rachel Wigginton, a Glendale freshman, fifth in duo interpretation (with partner Benjamin Pyle).
Ashley Litsey, a Hodgenville freshman, fifth in poetry interpretation.
Saeed Jones, a sophomore from Lewisville, Texas, semifinalist in impromptu speaking, semifinalist in duo interpretation (with partner Ben Unanaowo), semifinalist in after dinner speaking.
Nick Romerhausen, a senior from Evansville, Ind., semifinalist in impromptu speaking, quarterfinalist in extemporaneous speaking, quarterfinalist in communication analysis.
Courtney Wright, a senior from Evansville, Ind., semifinalist in prose interpretation, semifinalist in duo interpretation (with partner Joel Smith).
Justin Cress, a Florence senior, semifinalist in extemporaneous speaking, quarterfinalist in impromptu speaking.
Ryan Howell, a senior from Plymouth, Ind., semifinalist in duo interpretation (with partner Lydia Nelson), quarterfinalist in poetry interpretation.
Cornelius Lee, a freshman from Killeen, Texas, semifinalist in programmed oral interpretation, quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with partner John VanSlyke).
Ben Unanaowo, a sophomore from Union City, Calif., semifinalist in duo interpretation (with partner Saeed Jones), quarterfinalist in poetry interpretation.
Joel Smith, a Murray sophomore, semifinalist in duo interpretation (with partner Courtney Wright).
Chad Meadows, an Owensboro sophomore, quarterfinalist in extemporaneous speaking.
Melissa Messer, a San Antonio junior, quarterfinalist in communication analysis.
Logan Scisco, a Danville sophomore, quarterfinalist in extemporaneous speaking.
David Tuck, a freshman from Alexandria, Va., quarterfinalist in communication analysis.
John VanSlyke, a freshman from Wylie, Texas, quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with partner Cornelius Lee).
James Victery, an Indianapolis freshman, quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with partner Maggie Waid).
Maggie Waid, a Symsonia sophomore, quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with partner James Victery).
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.