April 22, 2008
Bowling
Green, Ky. - For the third consecutive year and for the fifth time in six years, Western Kentucky University’s forensic team has swept the major national and international speech and debate championships.
WKU won its seventh National Forensic Association National Tournament championship in debate and its fifth championship in individual events last weekend in Nashville, Tenn.
Earlier this semester, WKU won the American Forensic Association National Individual Events Tournament for the fifth time in six years and its ninth International Forensic Association championship in 10 years. WKU also won the National Parliamentary Debate Association National Tournament and its 18th consecutive Kentucky Forensic Association State Championship.
WKU also swept the NFA, AFA and IFA titles in the 2002-03, 2003-04, 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons.
“We had a goal this season and we reached it,” forensic director Judy Woodring said. “The NFA was an especially meaningful national tournament because the location in Nashville allowed President Gary Ransdell, his wife Julie, Provost Barbara Burch and Communication Department head Sally Ray to celebrate with us at the awards ceremony.”
At the NFA National Tournament April 17-21, WKU was crowned Debate Sweepstakes Champion with 105 debate sweepstakes points. Creighton University placed second with 68 points followed by Drury University with 43, Northwestern University with 42 and the U.S. Air Force Academy with 39.
WKU won Individual Events Sweepstakes with 642 points. The second-place school, Bradley University, had 510.5 points. Rounding out the top 10 were University of Texas at Austin with 361.5, University of Alabama with 338, Kansas State University with 299.5, Arizona State University with 282.5, Illinois State University with 267.5, University of California at Long Beach with 232.5, Eastern Michigan University with 188, and University of Wisconsin at Eau-Claire with 177.
Individual results from the NFA National Tournament are as follows:
Jessica Furgerson, a sophomore from San Antonio, Texas, national champion in impromptu speaking, second in Lincoln-Douglas debate, seventh debate speaker, eleventh in individual sweepstakes and quarterfinalist in extemporaneous speaking.
Saeed Jones, a senior from Lewisville, Texas, second in individual sweepstakes, second in rhetorical criticism, third in impromptu speaking, third in poetry, third in duo interpretation (with Ben Unanaowo), fifth in after-dinner speaking and quarterfinalist in prose interpretation.
Natalie Sintek, a senior from Eagan, Minn., second in duo interpretation (with Joele Denis), third in individual sweepstakes, third in after-dinner speaking, semifinalist in prose interpretation, semifinalist in informative speaking, semifinalist in persuasive speaking, semifinalist in poetry interpretation, semifinalist in dramatic interpretation and quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Ganer Newman).
Joele Denis, a junior from Hollywood, Fla., second in duo interpretation (with Natalie Sintek), fifth in individual sweepstakes, semifinalist in prose interpretation, semifinalist in dramatic interpretation, quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Samantha Harrison) and quarterfinalist in poetry interpretation.
Brian Bloss, a junior from Coppell, Texas, semifinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate and quarterfinalist in extemporaneous speaking.
Daniel Johnson, a sophomore from Independence, Mo., third in dramatic interpretation, fifth in poetry interpretation, 12th in individual sweepstakes and semifinalist in duo interpretation (with Adam Swanson).
Ben Pyle, a senior from Harrisburg, Ill., fourth in prose interpretation, 15th in individual sweepstakes, semifinalist in rhetorical criticism, semifinalist in dramatic interpretation and quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Maggie Waid).
Seth Peckham, a sophomore from Alden, Kan., third in extemporaneous speaking, third in persuasive speaking, fifth in impromptu speaking and seventh in individual sweepstakes.
Ben Unanaowo, a senior from Union City, Calif., third in duo interpretation (with Saeed Jones) and sixth in informative speaking.
Adam Swanson, a sophomore from Rosemount, Minn., sixth in poetry interpretation, semifinalist in prose interpretation and semifinalist in duo interpretation (with Dan Johnson).
Samantha Harrison, a sophomore from Carrollton, Texas, quarterfinalist in after-dinner speaking and quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Joele Denis).
Cornelius Lee, a junior from Killeen, Texas, semifinalist in poetry interpretation and quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Jeffrey Boggess).
Maggie Waid, a senior from Symsonia, semifinalist in dramatic interpretation and quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Ben Pyle).
Todd Rainey, a freshman from Indianapolis, semifinalist in extemporaneous speaking.
Beth Berger, a senior from Lexington, semifinalist in informative speaking.
Chad Meadows, a senior from Owensboro, semifinalist in impromptu speaking.
Carrie Guggenmos, a sophomore from Fullerton, Calif., quarterfinalist in prose interpretation and quarterfinalist in rhetorical criticism.
Ganer Newman, a junior from Sherman Oaks, Calif., quarterfinalist in prose interpretation and quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Natalie Sintek).
Rachel Wigginton, a junior from Glendale, quarterfinalist in prose interpretation.
Chelsea Harman, a freshman from Hickory, quarterfinalist in informative speaking.
Drew Horner, a sophomore from Morristown, Tenn., quarterfinalist in persuasive speaking.
Jeffrey Boggess, a sophomore from Hayward, Calif., quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Cornelius Lee).
Jerome Davis, a sophomore from Austell, Ga., quarterfinalist in poetry interpretation.
Robert Whittley, a freshman from Glenview, Ill., quarterfinalist in poetry interpretation.
Elizabeth Mullins, a sophomore from Plymouth, Mass., quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Logan Parke, a sophomore from Little Rock, Ark., quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate and ninth debate speaker.
Josh Ramsey, a sophomore from Fort Scott, Kan., 10th debate speaker.
Kaleb Jessee, a sophomore from Garden City, Kan., octafinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Joshua Harzman, a freshman from Salina, Kan., octafinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Rachel Mosley, a junior from Lake Tahoe, Calif., octafinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Sarah Spiker, a freshman from Snohomish, Wash., double-octafinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Lauren Nelson, a junior from Wheaton, Ill., double-octafinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Thomas Schally, a junior from Stillwater, Minn., double-octafinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Brandon Merrell, a freshman from Snohomish, Wash., double-octafinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
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.
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