WKU Forensic Team Repeats As National Champions In NFA, Completes Sweep Of Major National, International Titles

April 24, 2007

Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University’s forensic team has completed another sweep of major national and international speech and debate titles by winning the National Forensic Association National Tournament.

WKU won its sixth NFA National Tournament championship in debate as well as its fourth championship in individual events April 19-23 in Rome, Ga.

Earlier this spring, WKU won its fourth American Forensic Association National Individual Events Tournament in five years, its eighth International Forensic Association title, the National Parliamentary Debate Association National Tournament and its 17th consecutive Kentucky Forensic Association championship.

“It was the longest six days of my life,” forensic director Judy Woodring said of the NFA tournament, “and I’m happy to be back in Bowling Green. The NFA tournament was really tough, but we knew that we’d have a big target on our backs again this year and our students would have to overcome being the team to beat.”

WKU won the NFA championship with 618 points.  Eastern Michigan University was second with 390.5 points. Rounding out the top 10 were Arizona State University, Bradley University, Illinois State University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Minnesota at Mankato, University of Wisconsin: Eau-Claire, University of California at Long Beach, and Morehouse College. The tournament was held at Berry College.

WKU also swept the NFA, AFA and IFA titles in the 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2005-06 seasons.

Individual results from the National Forensic Association National Tournament are as follows:

Joelle Perry, a senior from Florence, national champion in impromptu speaking, second in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, fourth debate speaker, fourth in extemporaneous speaking.
Natalie Sintek, a junior from Eagan, Minn., fourth in duo interpretation (with Benjamin Pyle), fourth in pentathalon, fifth in prose interpretation, sixth in persuasive speaking, sixth in informative speaking, semifinalist in after-dinner speaking.
Saeed Jones, a junior from Lewisville, Texas, fourth in impromptu speaking, fifth in poetry interpretation, fifth in after-dinner speaking, fifth in pentathalon, semifinalist in persuasive speaking, quarterfinalist in prose interpretation.
Lauren Nelson, a sophomore from Wheaton, Ill., second in impromptu speaking, fifth in extemporaneous speaking, 11th in pentathalon, quarterfinalist in persuasive speaking, double octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
Rachel Wigginton, a sophomore from Glendale, second in duo interpretation (with Benjamin Pyle), third in rhetorical criticism, 13th in pentathalon, quarterfinalist in prose interpretation.
Lydia Nelson, a senior from Carver, Mass., second in after-dinner speaking, semifinalist in duo interpretation (with Stephanie Youroukos), 15th in pentathalon, semifinalist in duo interpretation (with Jeffrey Boggess), quarterfinalist in prose interpretation.
Benjamin Pyle, a junior from Harrisburg, Ill., second in duo interpretation (with Rachel Wigginton), fourth in duo interpretation (with Natalie Sintek), sixth in prose interpretation.
Kevin Cheairs, a freshman from Bellevue, Neb., fourth in poetry interpretation, fourth in prose interpretation.
Seth Peckham, a freshman from Alden, Kan., fifth in rhetorical criticism, sixth in extemporaneous speaking, octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
Jessica Furgerson, a freshman from San Antonio, Texas, sixth in impromptu speaking, semifinalist in extemporaneous speaking.
Keyon Shokraie, a senior from Somis, Calif., semifinalist in impromptu speaking, double octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
Kasey Gardner, a senior from Simi Valley, Calif., fifth debate speaker, quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, quarterfinalist in impromptu speaking.
Rachel Mosley, a sophomore from Lake Tahoe, Calif., 10th debate speaker, double octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
Barry Fields, a senior from Bowling Green, quarterfinalist in extemporaneous speaking, quarterfinalist in impromptu speaking, quarterfinalist in rhetorical criticism.
Joseph Allen, a sophomore from Boise, Idaho, semifinalist in Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
Chad Meadows, a junior from Owensboro, eighth debate speaker, double octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
Beth Berger, a junior from Lexington, semifinalist in informative speaking, semifinalist in rhetorical criticism.
Stephanie Youroukos, a senior from Harrisburg, Ill., semifinalist in poetry interpretation, semifinalist in duo interpretation (with Lydia Nelson).
Brian Bloss, a sophomore from Coppell, Texas, seventh debate speaker, double octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
Elizabeth Mullins, a freshman from Plymouth, Mass., sixth debate speaker.
Ryan Brown, a sophomore from Morehead, semifinalist in rhetorical criticism, quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Carrie Guggenmos).
Nick Courtney, a sophomore from Morristown, Tenn., quarterfinalist in persuasive speaking, quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Micah Mason).
Micah Mason, a sophomore from Desoto, Texas, quarterfinalist in poetry interpretation, quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Nick Courtney).
Jerome Davis, a freshman from Austell, Ga., quarterfinalist in prose interpretation, quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Benjamin Unanaowo).
Thomas Schally, a junior from Stillwater, Minn., double octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
Adam Heugel, a junior from Rosenburg, Texas, double octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
Jeffrey Boggess, a freshman from Hayward, Calif., semifinalist in duo interpretation (with Lydia Nelson).
Benjamin Unanaowo, a junior from Union City, Calif., quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Jerome Davis).
J.D. VanSlyke, a sophomore from Wylie, Texas, quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Cornelius Lee).
Joseph Millhouse, a freshman from San Antonio, Texas, quarterfinalist in prose interpretation.
Ashley Litsey, a sophomore from Hodgenville, quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Daniel Johnson).
Cornelius Lee, a sophomore from Killeen, Texas, quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with J.D. VanSlyke).
Carrie Guggenmos, a freshman from Fullerton, Calif., quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Ryan Brown).
Daniel Johnson, a freshman from Independence, Mo., quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Ashley Litsey).
               
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For information, contact Judy Woodring at (270) 745-6340.