WKU Forensic Team Competes In Three Tournaments

January 28, 2008

Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University forensic team members traveled to St. Louis, Mo., DeKalb, Ill., and Athens, Ohio, to take part in three tournaments the weekend of Jan. 25-27.

At the Webster Invitational in St. Louis, the WKU debate team grabbed both the debate sweepstakes and overall sweepstakes championships. In debate sweepstakes, McKendree College placed second and Cedarville University was third. In overall sweepstakes, McKendree placed second with Kansas State Wesleyan third. WKU also received Top Pi Kappa Delta Chapter Member and the Gorlok Gala Traveling Trophy.

The Northern Illinois University Mid-America Forensic League Tournament does not hand out awards. Instead, MAFL donates 50 cents per sweepstakes point to a charity of choice. MAFL donated $308 with WKU raising $54.
At the Ohio University Appalachian Swing, several more WKU team members qualified events for the national tournaments in April.

Results from the Webster Gorlok Gala are as follows:

Jessica Furgerson, a sophomore from San Antonio, Texas, tournament champion in extemporaneous speaking, tournament champion in impromptu speaking, second parliamentary debate speaker, quarterfinalist in parliamentary debate (with Rachel Mosley) and fifth in rhetorical criticism.

Chad Meadows, a senior from Owensboro, tournament champion in parliamentary debate (with Tom Schally), top Lincoln-Douglas debate speaker, second in Lincoln-Douglas debate, third in extemporaneous speaking, fourth in impromptu speaking and fourth parliamentary debate speaker.

Thomas Schally, a junior from Stillwater, Minn., tournament champion in parliamentary debate (with Chad Meadows) and top parliamentary debate speaker.

Rachel Mosley, a junior from Lake Tahoe, Calif., semifinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate, quarterfinalist in parliamentary debate (with Jessica Furgerson), eighth Lincoln-Douglas debate speaker and 15th parliamentary debate speaker.

Brian Bloss, a junior from Coppell, Texas, third Lincoln-Douglas debate speaker, octafinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate, eighth parliamentary debate speaker and octafinalist in parliamentary debate (with Kelcy Hathaway).

Lauren Nelson, a junior from Wheaton, Ill., third in dramatic interpretation, quarterfinalist in parliamentary debate (with Brandon Merrell) and octafinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Todd Rainey, a freshman from Indianapolis, semifinalist in parliamentary debate (with Kaleb Jessee), sixth in extemporaneous speaking and octafinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Kaleb Jessee, a sophomore from Garden City, Kan., semifinalist in parliamentary debate (with Todd Rainey) and octafinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Brandon Merrell, a freshman from Snohomish, Wash., quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate and quarterfinalist in parliamentary debate (with Lauren Nelson).

Sarah Spiker, a freshman from Snohomish, Wash., seventh Lincoln-Douglas debate speaker and quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Elizabeth Mullins, a sophomore from Plymouth, Mass., quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate and octafinalist in parliamentary debate (with Logan Parke).

Amber Williams, a freshman from Kokomo, Ind., quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Kelcy Hathaway, a sophomore from Garden City, Kan., octafinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate and octafinalist in parliamentary debate (with Brian Bloss).

Logan Parke, a sophomore from Little Rock, Ark., octafinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate and octafinalist in parliamentary debate (with Elizabeth Mullins).

Rob Strobel, a freshman from Lexington, sixth in impromptu speaking and double-octafinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Results from the Mid-America Forensic League Tournament are as follows:

J.D. VanSlyke, a junior from Wylie, Texas, tournament champion in informative speaking and fifth in dramatic interpretation in the first half; tournament champion in dramatic interpretation, second in poetry interpretation, fourth in communication analysis and fifth in informative speaking in the second half.

Joele Denis, a junior from Hollywood, Fla., tournament champion in poetry interpretation and fourth in impromptu speaking in the second half.

Carrie Guggenmos, a sophomore from Fullerton, Calif., second in prose interpretation and third in poetry interpretation in the first half; second in communication analysis and fifth in poetry interpretation in the second half.

Ganer Newman, a junior from Sherman Oaks, Calif., second in poetry interpretation in the first half; third in poetry interpretation in the second half.

Samantha Harrison, a sophomore from Carrollton, Texas, second in persuasive speaking in the first half; third in persuasive speaking in the second half.

Micah Mason, a junior from Desoto, Texas, sixth in poetry interpretation in the second half.

Results from the Ohio University Appalachian Swing are as follows:

Rachel Wigginton, a junior from Glendale, tournament champion in duo interpretation (with Ben Pyle), fourth in rhetorical criticism and fifth in informative speaking in the Alumni half; tournament champion in individual sweepstakes, tournament champion in informative speaking, tournament champion in duo interpretation (with Ben Pyle), second in rhetorical criticism and fourth in prose interpretation in the OU half.

Ben Pyle, a senior from Harrisburg, Ill., tournament champion in duo interpretation (with Rachel Wigginton), third in prose interpretation and fourth in poetry interpretation in the Alumni half; tournament champion in poetry interpretation, tournament champion in duo interpretation (with Rachel Wigginton) and second in prose interpretation in the OU half.

Maggie Waid, a senior from Symsonia, tournament champion in prose interpretation and second in poetry interpretation in the Alumni half; tournament champion in prose interpretation and fourth in poetry interpretation in the OU half.

Drew Horner, a sophomore from Morristown, Tenn., second in informative speaking and sixth in rhetorical criticism in the Alumni half; second in informative speaking, second in persuasive speaking and fourth in rhetorical criticism in the OU half.

Desiree Guerrero, a freshman from Fullerton, Calif., third in informative speaking in the Alumni half; fourth in persuasive speaking and fifth in informative speaking in the OU half.
               
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For information, contact Judy Woodring at (270) 745-6340.