Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University’s Forensic Team took the top awards at the Central Michigan University Invitational this past weekend with an impressive performance by four team members.

WKU placed first in individual events sweepstakes, debate sweepstakes and overall sweepstakes in the Feb. 24-25 tournament. Joelle Perry, a Florence junior, accomplished a rare feat by winning six tournament championships in both debate and individual events.

The remaining members of the WKU team played host to the first annual “Southern Comfort” Swing Tournament with the University of Alabama. A total of 15 schools participated in the Feb. 25-26 tournament. While host schools are not factored into the team sweepstakes awards, several team members placed in the final rounds of competition in the University of Alabama portion of the tournament.

Individual results for the Central Michigan University Invitational

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

Megan Schrader, a freshman from Lowell, Ark., tournament champion in parliamentary debate (with partner Joelle Perry), second in Lincoln-Douglas debate, fifth speaker in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Nicole Hawk, an Upton senior, second in Lincoln-Douglas debate, semifinalist in parliamentary debate (with partner Chris Neill), second in extemporaneous speaking, second in impromptu speaking, second speaker in Lincoln-Douglas debate, second speaker in parliamentary debate.

Chris Neill, a sophomore from Petoskey, Mich., semifinalist in parliamentary debate (with partner Nicole Hawk), third speaker in parliamentary debate, quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate, eighth speaker in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Individual results for the Alabama portion of the “Southern Comfort” Swing

Chad Meadows, an Owensboro sophomore, tournament champion in extemporaneous speaking and impromptu speaking.

Lydia Nelson, a junior from Carver, Mass., tournament champion in duo interpretation (with partner Ryan Howell), fifth in persuasive speaking.

Ryan Howell, a senior from Plymouth, Ind., tournament champion in duo interpretation (with partner Lydia Nelson).

Melissa Messer, a San Antonio junior, fifth in after dinner speaking, sixth in persuasive speaking.

Grace Bruenderman, a Lexington senior, second in informative speaking.

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

Kasey Gardner, a junior from Simi Valley, Calif., third in extemporaneous speaking.

Saeed Jones, a sophomore from Lewisville, Texas, third in duo interpretation (with partner Ben Unanaowo).

Ben Unanaowo, a sophomore from Union City, Calif., third in duo interpretation (with partner Saeed Jones).

David Tuck, a freshman from Alexandria, Va., third in communication analysis.

J. D. VanSlyke, a freshman from Wylie, Texas, fourth in informative speaking.

Joel Smith, a Murray sophomore, fourth in after dinner speaking.

Rachel Wigginton, a Glendale freshman, fifth in duo interpretation (with partner Nick Courtney).

Nick Courtney, a freshman from Morristown, Tenn., fifth in duo interpretation (with partner Rachel Wigginton).

Benjamin Pyle, a sophomore from Harrisburg, Ill., sixth in informative speaking.

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.