College of Education and Behavioral Sciences News

WKU Forensics team members competed at the Kentucky Forensics Association tournament. Back row (from left): Joshua St. Peter, Kole Ingram, Chase Shockley; middle row (from left): Christian Butterfield, Oli Wood Morris, Nik Schintgen, Antonina Clementi, Ameya Puranik, Jay Roccaforte; front row (from left): Jaleon Brown, Sophie Todaro, Cecilia Alali, Joie Willoughby, Sydney Rettig, Aquilla Dunn, Jade Ismail

WKU Forensics clinched the top spot at the 2025 Kentucky Forensics Association, hosted by Murray State University on February 7-9. 

After being cancelled in 2024, the Kentucky Forensics Association returned in 2025 with a new format. Murray State University, which traditionally hosts its Jackson Purchase tournament in February, added awards for the Kentucky Forensics Association state championship to their tournament. Schools from other states were eligible to compete at the tournament, but the top finisher from the state of Kentucky took home the State Championship.

Students from WKU Forensics won the state championship in all 14 varsity events across speech and debate. Antonina Clementi of Lafayette, Louisiana, was named the top speaker in varsity International Public Debate and Christian Butterfield of Bowling Green, Kentucky, won Quadrathon, an award for accumulating the most points in individual events.

Clementi also was recognized with the Harlan Hamm Award, given to students for their leadership and excellence both in competition and in their academic endeavors and community service. This honor was bestowed on only two students in the state this season.

WKU won first in KFA both individual event and debate sweepstakes (tied) and ultimately was named the Kentucky Forensics Association Grand Champion for the 32nd consecutive year, an unparalleled record of excellence in state competition.

The following WKU students won Kentucky State Championships:

• Cecilia Alali of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Communication Analysis, Impromptu Speaking, Poetry Interpretation, Prose Interpretation
• Christian Butterfield of Bowling Green: After Dinner Speaking, Persuasive Speaking, Informative Speaking
• Antonina Clementi of Lafayette, Louisiana: Extemporaneous Speaking
• Aquilla Dunn of St. Paul, Minnesota: Dramatic Interpretation, Program Oral Interpretation
• Kole Ingram of Hindman, Kentucky: Editorial Impromptu
• Ameya Puranik of Mountain House, California: Varsity International Public Debate 
• Joshua St. Peter of Canton, Georgia: Radio Broadcasting
• Sophie Todaro of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Sydney Rettig of Perrysburg, Ohio: Duo Interpretation

Results from the Jackson Purchase Part 1:

• After Dinner Speaking: Christian Butterfield, 1st; Jade Ismail of Lafayette, Louisiana, 2nd; Sophie Todaro of St. Paul, Minnesota, 4th.
• Communication Analysis: Cecilia Alali, 1st; Jade Ismail, 2nd; Jaleon Brown of Kansas City, Missouri, 4th.
• Dramatic Interpretation: Aquilla Dunn, 1st; Jaleon Brown, 3rd; Nik Schintgen of Lansing, Kansas, 6th.
• Duo Interpretation: Sophie Todaro and Sydney Rettig, 1st; Joie Willoughby of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Sydney Rettig, 3rd.
• Editorial Impromptu: Kole Ingram, 1st; Christian Butterfield, 2nd; Jaleon Brown, 6th.
• Extemporaneous Speaking: Antonina Clementi, 1st; Ameya Puranik, 2nd; Kole Ingram, 5th.
• Impromptu Speaking: Cecilia Alali, 1st; Kole Ingram, 3rd; Jaleon Brown, 6th.
• Informative Speaking: Christian Butterfield, 1st; Sophie Todaro, 2nd; Jade Ismail, 4th.
• IPDA Debate: Ameya Puranik, 2nd; Antonina Clementi, Top 4; Nik Schintgen, Top 8, Kole Ingram, Top 8.
• IPDA Speakers: Antonina Clementi, 1st; Ameya Puranik, 2nd; Kole Ingram, 6th.
• Persuasive Speaking: Christian Butterfield, 1st; Jaleon Brown, 6th.
• Poetry Interpretation: Cecilia Alali, 2nd; Jay Roccaforte, 3rd.
• Program Oral Interpretation: Aquilla Dunn, 1st; Joie Willoughby, 2nd.
• Prose Interpretation: Cecilia Alali, 1st; Jade Ismail, 3rd; Sophie Todaro, 4th.
• Radio Broadcasting: Joshua St. Peter, 1st.
• Quadrathon: Christian Butterfield, 1st; Cecilia Alali, 2nd; Sophie Todaro, 3rd; Jade Ismail, 4th.

Results from the Jackson Purchase Part 2:

• After Dinner Speaking: Christian Butterfield, 1st; Jade Ismail, 2nd.
• Communication Analysis: Cecilia Alali, 1st; Jade Ismail, 2nd; Sydney Rettig, 6th.
• Dramatic Interpretation: Sophie Todaro, 2nd; Aquilla Dunn, 3rd; Jay Roccaforte of Cheyenne, Wyoming, 5th.
• Duo Interpretation: Sydney Rettig and Joie Willoughby, 2nd.
• Impromptu Speaking: Christian Butterfield, 2nd; Cecilia Alali, 4th.
• Informative Speaking: Jade Ismail, 1st; Christian Butterfield, 3rd; Sophie Todaro, 5th.
• Persuasive Speaking: Christian Butterfield, 1st.
• Poetry Interpretation: Cecilia Alali, 1st; Jay Roccaforte, 2nd.
• Program Oral Interpretation: Joie Willoughby, 2nd; Aquilla Dunn, 3rd.
• Prose Interpretation: Cecilia Alali, 2nd; Jay Roccaforte, 3rd.
• Radio Broadcasting: Sydney Rettig, 5th.
• Quadrathon: Christian Butterfield, 1st; Cecilia Alali, 2nd; Jade Ismail, 6th.

More: Check out the WKU Forensics Facebook page or follow @wkuforensics  and @DebateWku on X/Twitter.

Contact: Ganer Newman, (270) 745-6340.         

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Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.