WKU News

Back row (from left): Aly Johnson, Victory Okoroji, Sophie Todaro, Finn Larson, Sydney Rettig, Hayden Johnson, Elizabeth Allen, Somtoo, Nkurumeh, Kilian Reck, Ryder Hebert, Nik Schintgen, Tess Segal, Kole Ingram; front row (from left): Mia Carver, Aquilla Dunn, Jade Ismail, Joie Willoughby, Kirsten Eversmann.

WKU Forensics took first in team sweepstakes at the LE Norton Memorial Tournament hosted by Bradley University on November 1 and 2.

Twenty-nine teams and 221 students with 629 entries competed at “The Norton” making it the largest fall semester in-person competition.  

WKU Forensics had two students in the Top 5 of Individual Sweepstakes, representing those students earning the most points at the tournament. Junior Jade Ismail of Lafayette, La., continued her streak of individual sweepstakes wins from the Crimson Classic in October by taking first place at the Norton. Ismail finaled (Top 6) five events and advanced to the semi-finals (Top 12) in a sixth. She won three events to earn the top overall individual spot in the competition.

Sophomore Aquilla Dunn of St. Paul, Minn., placed 5th in individual sweepstakes by virtue of making four final rounds.

Eighteen students on the WKU Forensics team attended the Norton and collectively placed ahead of George Mason University (2nd), The University of Alabama (3rd), Wayne State University (4th) and Illinois State University (5th).

WKU will conclude its season at Wake Forest University and by hosting its annual fall semester high school tournament, The Hilltopper Classic.

Results from the 78th LE Norton Memorial Tournament are as follows:

After Dinner Speaking: Jade Ismail, 1st; Tess Segal of Weston, Fla., 4th; Kirsten Eversmann of Harrisburg, Ill., 5th; Elizabeth Allen, Top 18.

Communication Analysis: Joie Wiloughby of Little Rock, Ark., 1st; Nik Schintgen of Lansing, Kan., 2nd; Victory Okoroji, 4th and Top Novice; Aquilla Dunn, 6th; Tess Segal, Top 12.

Dramatic Interpretation: Aquilla Dunn, 5th; Elizabeth Allen of Whitehouse, Tenn., Top 12; Somtoo Nkurumeh of Oklahoma City, Okla., Top 12.

Novice Dramatic Interpretation: Victory Okoroji of Houston, Texas; 1st; Hayden Johnson of Burnsville, Minn., 2nd; Mia Carver of Rowan, Ky., 5th.

Duo Interpretation: Finn Larson of Moorhead, Minn. and Jade Ismail, 2nd; Aquilla Dunn and Jade Ismail, 4th.

Novice Extemporaneous Speaking: Aly Johnson of Willmar, Minn., 1st; Mia Carver, 2nd.

Impromptu Speaking: Jade Ismail, Top 12.

Novice Impromptu Speaking:  Kilian Reck of Coffeyville, Kan.; 6th, Aly Johnson, Top 12.

Informative Speaking: Kirsten Eversmann, 2nd; Ryder Hebert of Madison, Miss., Top 18; Elizabeth Allen, Top 18.

Novice Informative Speaking:  Aly Johnson, 1st; Hayden Jonson, 3rd.

Persuasive Speaking: Tess Segal, 1st.

Poetry Interpretation: Aquilla Dunn, 2nd.

Novice Poetry Interpretation: Victory Okoroji, 1st.

POI: Jade Ismail, 1st.

Prose Interpretation: Jade Ismail, 1st; Joie Wiloughby, Top 12; Kirsten Eversmann, Top 12; Somtoo Nkurumeh, Top 12.

More: Check out the WKU Forensics Facebook page or follow @wkuforensics 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.