WKU News

Pictured are members of WKU Forensics. Back row (from left): Aly Johnson, Somtoo Nkurumeh, Hayden Johnson, Kilian Reck; Middle row (from left): Tess Segal, Ryder Hebert, Sophie Todaro, Kirsten Eversmann, Victory Okoroji, Finn Larson; Front row (from left): Jade Ismail, Aquilla Dunn, Mia Carver, Joie Willoughby, Elizabeth Allen, Sydney Rettig, Karisha Petty

WKU Forensics won the sweepstakes championship at the Asynchronous Speech Championship hosted virtually by Southwest Minnesota State University on March 25-29.

At the Asynchronous Speech Championship, WKU advanced 65 percent of its entries to elimination rounds, placing at least one student in the top 12 in all eleven events and winning three event championships. WKU placed first in sweepstakes ahead of 49 other universities including Wayne State University, Ball State University and the University of Illinois Chicago.

WKU earned three of the top 10 individual sweepstakes awards, led by Tess Segal, who placed second, Jade Ismail, who placed third and Elizabeth Allen, who placed ninth.

The team leaves today (April 15) for its final competition of the season, the National Forensics Association tournament hosted by Tennessee State University on April 16-20.

Results from the 2026 Asynchronous Speech Championship are as follows:

After Dinner Speaking: Tess Segal, 1st; Elizabeth Allen, 3rd; Kirsten Eversmann, 5th; Fadé Akinbayo, 6th; Jade Ismail, semifinalist; Ryder Hebert, quarterfinalist; Sophie Todaro, quarterfinalist and Somtoo Nkurumeh, quarterfinalist

Communication Analysis: Tess Segal, 2nd; Aquila Dunn 3rd; Joie Wiloughby, semifinalist; Victory Okoroji, semifinalist, Nik Schintgen, quarterfinalist and Finn Larson, quarterfinalist 

Dramatic Interpretation: Aquilla Dunn, 3rd; Finn Larson, 4th; Elizabeth Allen, 5th; Mia Carver, semifinalist; Victory Okoroji, semifinalist; Fadé Akinbayo, quarterfinalist; Joie Wiloughby, quarterfinalist and Somtoo Nkurumeh, quarterfinalist

Duo Interpretation: Somtoo Nkurumeh and Victory Okoroji, 2nd;  Finn Larson and Jade Ismail, 4th;  Somtoo Nkurumeh and Hayden Johnson, quarterfinalists; Hayden Johnson, quarterfinalist and Joie Willoughby, quarterfinalists

Impromptu Speaking: Fadé Akinbayo, semifinalist; Mia Carver, quarterfinalist; Ryder Hebert, quarterfinalist and Tess Segal, quarterfinalist

Informative Speaking: Jade Ismail, 1st; Aly Johnson, 4th; Elizabeth Allen, 5th; Sydney Rettig, semifinalist; Nik Schintgen, quarterfinalist; Sophie Todaro, quarterfinalist and Joie Willoughby, quarterfinalist

Persuasive Speaking: Tess Segal, 3rd; Elizabeth Allen, semifinalist; Kirsten Eversmann, quarterfinalist and Sydney Rettig, quarterfinalist

Poetry Interpretation: JaKayla Brown, 4th; Finn Larson, 6th and Hayden Johnson, quarterfinalist

Program Oral Interpretation: Jade Ismail, semifinalist; Somtoo Nkurumeh, semifinalist and Mia Carver, semifinalist

Prose Interpretation: Jade Ismail, 1st; Tess Segal, semifinalist; Elizabeth Allen, semifinalist; Somtoo Nkurumeh, semifinalist and Kirsten Eversmann, quarterfinalist

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

Contact: Ganer Newman, (270) 745-6340

-- WKU –

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.