Bowling Green, Ky. - Members of Western Kentucky University’s Forensic Team traveled to three locations for speech and debate tournaments Jan. 27-29.
Team members traveled to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to compete at the American Forensics Association (AFA) District 6 Qualifier and the University of Alabama Alumni Invitational. The WKU individual events squad placed first ahead of the University of Alabama, Tennessee State University and University of Florida in both tournaments.
Lydia Nelson, a junior from Carver, Mass., was elected as the District 6 student representative. She will serve along with other student representatives on the AFA national council.
WKU team members also competed in a debate and individual events tournament at the Webster University Gorlock Invitational in St. Louis. The squad took first in both overall and debate sweepstakes. The team was also named the top Pi Kappa Delta school.
A third group of five students competed in the Eastern Michigan University Tower Invitational in Ypsilanti, Mich. WKU placed third in individual events sweepstakes behind Cedarville University and Berry College.
Individual results from the AFA District 6 Qualifier/University of Alabama Alumni Invitational:
Chris Brasfield, a Bowling Green senior, tournament champion in communication analysis in the district qualifier; tournament champion in communication analysis in the Alabama tournament.
Joel Smith, a Murray sophomore, tournament champion in dramatic interpretation, second in duo interpretation (with Courtney Wright), third in duo interpretation (with Stephanie Youroukos) in the district qualifier; second in duo interpretation (with Wright), sixth in duo interpretation (with Youroukos) in the Alabama tournament.
Natalie Sintek, a sophomore from Eagan, Minn., second in dramatic interpretation in the district qualifier; tournament champion in after dinner speaking, second in prose interpretation, fourth in dramatic interpretation in the Alabama tournament.
Nick Romerhausen, a senior from Evansville, Ind., tournament champion in after dinner speaking in the district qualifier; third in after dinner speaking, fifth in informative speaking in the Alabama tournament.
Ben Unanaowo, a sophomore from Union City, Calif., tournament champion in poetry interpretation in the district qualifier.
Courtney Wright, a senior from Evansville, Ind., second in duo interpretation (with Joel Smith), fourth in prose interpretation, fifth in after dinner speaking in the district qualifier; second in duo interpretation (with Smith), sixth in prose interpretation, sixth in after dinner speaking in the Alabama tournament.
Ashley Brasfield, a Mayfield senior, fourth in communication analysis, fifth in informative speaking in the district qualifier; third in communication analysis, fourth in programmed oral interpretation, fourth in prose interpretation in the Alabama tournament.
Nick Courtney, a freshman from Morristown, Tenn., second in persuasive speaking, third in poetry interpretation in the district qualifier; second in persuasive speaking, fourth in poetry interpretation in the Alabama tournament.
Ryan Howell, a senior from Plymouth, Ind., third in informative speaking, third in dramatic interpretation in the district qualifier; sixth in dramatic interpretation, seventh in duo interpretation (with Stephanie Youroukos) in the Alabama tournament.
Ashley Litsey, a Hodgenville freshman, sixth in duo interpretation (with Saeed Jones) in the district qualifier; second in poetry interpretation, fifth in duo interpretation (with Jones) in the Alabama tournament.
Barry Fields, a Bowling Green junior, sixth in communication analysis in the district qualifier; third in informative speaking, sixth in communication analysis in the Alabama tournament.
Stephanie Youroukos, a junior from Mount Vernon, Ill., third in duo interpretation (with Joel Smith) in the district qualifier; sixth in duo interpretation (with Smith), seventh in duo interpretation (with Ryan Howell) in the Alabama tournament.
Grace Bruenderman, a Lexington senior, third in persuasive speaking in the district qualifier; second in communication analysis in the Alabama tournament.
Lydia Nelson, a junior from Carver, Mass., third in after dinner speaking in the district qualifier; second in after dinner speaking in the Alabama tournament.
Maggie Waid, a Symsonia sophomore, fourth in poetry interpretation and fifth in prose interpretation in the district qualifier.
Saeed Jones, a sophomore from Lewisville, Texas, sixth in duo interpretation (with Ashley Litsey) in the district qualifier; fifth in duo interpretation (with Litsey) in the Alabama tournament.
Melissa Messer, a San Antonio junior, third in impromptu speaking in the district qualifier.
Individual results for the Webster University Gorlock Invitational:
Keyon Shokraie, a junior from Somis, Calif., tournament champion in extemporaneous speaking, third in impromptu speaking, 10th speaker in Lincoln-Douglas debate, octofinalist in parliamentary debate (with partner Kasey Gardner), double-octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Lauren Nelson, a freshman from Wheaton, Ill., tournament champion in impromptu speaking, third in prose interpretation, seventh speaker in parliamentary debate, quarterfinalist in parliamentary debate (with partner Rachel Mosley), double-octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Joelle Perry, a Florence junior, top speaker in parliamentary debate, fourth speaker in Lincoln-Douglas debate, quarterfinalist in parliamentary debate (with partner Megan Schrader), octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Nicole Hawk, an Upton senior, second in extemporaneous speaking, second speaker in Lincoln-Douglas debate, fifth in impromptu speaking, quarterfinalist in parliamentary debate (with partner Ashley Burgdorf), quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Megan Schrader, a freshman from Lowell, Ark., semifinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate, quarterfinalist in parliamentary debate (with partner Joelle Perry), 18th speaker in parliamentary debate.
Joshua Stewert, a junior from Lake Charles, La., fifth in extemporaneous speaking, octofinalist in parliamentary debate (with partner Chris Niell), double-octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Chris Niell, a sophomore from Petoskey, Mich., 12th speaker in parliamentary debate, octofinalist in parliamentary debate (with partner Joshua Stewert), double-octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Kasey Gardner, a junior from Simi Valley, Calif., fourth in impromptu speaking, octofinalist in parliamentary debate (with partner Keyon Shokraie), double-octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Justin Cress, a Florence senior, second in Lincoln-Douglas debate, third speaker in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Adam Heugel, a sophomore from Rosenberg, Texas, second in parliamentary debate (with partner Chad Meadows), fourth in extemporaneous speaking.
Rachel Mosley, a freshman from Verdi, Nev., quarterfinalist in parliamentary debate (with partner Lauren Nelson), quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Ashley Burgdorf, a sophomore from Evansville, Ind., sixth in impromptu speaking, quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
John Morris, a LaGrange freshman, double-octofinalist in parliamentary debate (with partner Brian Bloss), double-octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Chad Meadows, an Owensboro sophomore, second in parliamentary debate (with partner Adam Heugel).
Brian Bloss, a freshman from Coppell, Texas, double-octofinalist in parliamentary debate (with partner John Morris).
Individual results for the Eastern Michigan Tower Invitational:
Micah Mason, a freshman from Desoto, Texas, tournament champion in programmed oral interpretation, tournament champion in poetry interpretation, third in individual sweepstakes, sixth in duo interpretation (with David Tuck).
David Tuck, a freshman from Alexandria, Va., second in rhetorical criticism, sixth in duo interpretation (with Micah Mason).
Rachel Wigginton, a Glendale freshman, third in poetry interpretation, fifth in prose interpretation.
Ryan Brown, a Morehead freshman, third in informative speaking, sixth in persuasive speaking.
Ben Pyle, a sophomore from Harrisburg, Ill., fourth in rhetorical criticism.
- WKU - a leading American university with international reach -
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.
