April 22, 2009
Bowling
Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University’s forensic team won its eighth National Forensic Association National Tournament championship in debate and its sixth championship in individual events April 16-20 in Springfield, Mo.
The National Forensic Association national tournament is the largest such national tournament in the nation, with 1,240 slots competing in individual events and 22 schools competing in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
WKU was crowned Debate Sweepstakes Champion followed by Creighton University, U.S. Air Force Academy, Missouri Southern University and Lafayette College.
WKU also won Individual Events Sweepstakes followed by Bradley University, University of Texas at Austin, Illinois State University and Northwestern University. WKU also received the Founders Trophy, which is periodically awarded to schools as they accumulate sweepstakes points over a span of years.
Three WKU students won national championships, including Joele Denis who claimed the pentathalon title for overall success in individual events. WKU had two more students in the top six in pentathalon and had students advance to the final round of all but one event.
The NFA championships wrapped up another successful season for the WKU speech and debate teams. WKU won its sixth American Forensic Association National Individual Events Tournament earlier this month and won its 19th consecutive Kentucky Forensic Association State Championship this year.
“Going into this semester, I felt that this was going to be a rebuilding season for us,” Forensics Director Judy Woodring said. “The coaches and I let the students know how hard they were going to have to work to maintain the national titles. And they did it. We didn’t have any big stars but we did have people step up to the plate and bring it on.”
Individual results from the National Forensic Association National Tournament are as follows:
Joele Denis, a senior from Hollywood, Fla., national champion in pentathalon, national champion in poetry interpretation, second in dramatic interpretation, third in duo interpretation (with Adam Swanson), semifinalist in rhetorical criticism, semifinalist in duo interpretation (with Alex Wozencraft), semifinalist in after-dinner speaking and quarterfinalist in prose interpretation.
Cornelius Lee, a senior from Killeen, Texas, national champion in duo interpretation (with Ashley Litsey) and third in poetry interpretation.
Ashley Litsey, a senior from Hodgenville, national champion in duo interpretation (with Cornelius Lee) and fourth in poetry interpretation.
Carrie Guggenmos, a junior from Fullerton, Calif., second in prose interpretation, third in pentathalon, fourth in poetry interpretation, semifinalist in poetry interpretation, quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Ganer Newman) and quarterfinalist in informative speaking.
Lauren Nelson, a senior from Wheaton, Ill., second in Lincoln-Douglas debate, fourth in impromptu speaking, third debate speaker, 12th in pentathalon and quarterfinalist in prose interpretation.
Ganer Newman, a junior from Sherman Oaks, Calif., second in rhetorical criticism, quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Carrie Guggenmos) and quarterfinalist in dramatic interpretation.
Jerome Davis, a junior from Austell, Ga., second in duo interpretation (with Robert Whittley), semifinalist in dramatic interpretation and quarterfinalist in poetry interpretation.
Jessica Furgerson, a junior from San Antonio, Texas, second debate speaker, semifinalist in impromptu speaking, semifinalist in extemporaneous speaking and quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Robert Whittley, a sophomore from Glenview, Ill., second in duo interpretation (with Jerome Davis), quarterfinalist in prose interpretation and quarterfinalist in dramatic interpretation.
J.D. VanSlyke, a senior from Wylie, Texas, second in informative speaking, quarterfinalist in after-dinner speaking and quarterfinalist in poetry interpretation.
Adam Swanson, a junior from Rosemount, Minn., third in duo interpretation (with Joele Denis), fifth in prose interpretation, sixth in informative speaking, sixth in pentathalon, semifinalist in dramatic interpretation, semifinalist in duo interpretation (with Mario Nguyen) and quarterfinalist in after-dinner speaking.
Seth Peckham, a junior from Alden, Kan., third in extemporaneous speaking, quarterfinalist in after-dinner speaking, quarterfinalist in impromptu speaking and quarterfinalist in rhetorical criticism.
Rachel Wigginton, a senior from Glendale, third in persuasive speaking and semifinalist in informative speaking.
Sarah Spiker, a sophomore from Snohomish, Wash., semifinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Mario Nguyen, a freshman from Plano, Texas, semifinalist in duo interpretation (with Adam Swanson) and quarterfinalist in impromptu speaking.
Frank Murdock, a freshman from Kingston, Wash., quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Jeffrey Boggess, a junior from Hayward, Calif., semifinalist in dramatic interpretation.
Samantha Harrison, a junior from Carrollton, Texas, semifinalist in duo interpretation (with Colby Holt).
Colby Holt, a sophomore from Paducah, semifinalist in duo interpretation (with Samantha Harrison).
Alexander Wozencraft, a freshman from Tulsa, Okla., semifinalist in duo interpretation (with Joele Denis).
Elizabeth Mullins, a junior from Plymouth, Mass., ninth debate speaker.
Joshua Harzman, a sophomore from Salina, Kan., 10th debate speaker.
Kaleb Jessee, a junior from Garden City, Kan., octafinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Celena Allen, a freshman from Hayward, Calif., quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Taron Grizzell).
Taron Grizzell, a freshman from Union City, Calif., quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Celena Allen).
Chelsea Harman, a sophomore from Hickory, quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Ethan Millspaugh).
Ethan Millspaugh, a sophomore from Coppell, Texas, quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Chelsea Harman).
Katie Nedvidek, a junior from Danville, quarterfinalist in after-dinner speaking.
Todd Rainey, a sophomore from Indianapolis, quarterfinalist in extemporaneous speaking.
Lillian Schoer, a junior from Billings, Mont., quarterfinalist in after-dinner speaking.
Khristan Solliday, a freshman from Mitchell, Ind., quarterfinalist in impromptu speaking.
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu and at http://wkunews.wordpress.com/. 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.
-WKU-
"A leading American university with international reach"
Office of Media Relations
Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd., Bowling Green, Ky. 42101-3576
Phone: (270)745-4295 - Fax: (270)7455387 - E-Mail: western@wku.edu