WKU News

The 34 members of the WKU Forensics Team have returned to campus and are preparing for the 2018-19 season.

The national champion speech and debate team welcomes 13 new members this fall, recruited from across the nation, pursuing a variety of academic programs at WKU.

The team will begin the season on Sept. 21 when it hosts the annual WKU/Alumni Fall Swing Tournament and the Alexis Elliott Memorial Lincoln-Douglas Round Robin debate tournament. The first is open to all postsecondary schools who wish to attend, and usually brings about 20 schools to campus. The latter is an exclusive invite-only debate tournament, for debaters already recognized as some of the best in the nation.

“We are so excited to welcome such a talented group of students to The Hill,” said Director of Forensics Ganer Newman. “This preseason boot camp was so productive because every student put in a tremendous amount of effort during the summer months. We cannot wait to see all we will accomplish this season.”

In the 2017-18 season, WKU won the National Forensic Association (NFA) National Tournament championship and the National Forensic Association Lincoln-Douglas Debate Team Sweepstakes National championship, won the Pi Kappa Delta National Comprehensive Tournament, won its 26th consecutive Kentucky Forensic Association championship, and finished second in the American Forensic Association (AFA) National Individual Events Tournament.

The team will travel in some capacity almost every weekend from mid-September to the end of the competitive season in April. The AFA National Individual Events Tournament will be hosted by the University of Alabama April 5-9, and the NFA National Tournament will be hosted by the University of Southern California April 17-23.

“This season, we are focusing more of our attention on campus and community building initiatives,” Newman said. “We are proud to contribute to the WKU’s Strategic Plan and help our university climb to greater heights with another championship season!”

The 2018-19 WKU Forensics Team includes:

• Paige Allbright, a freshman from Youngsville, Louisiana, studying Communication and Journalism Writing.
• Andrea Ambam, a senior from Peculiar, Missouri, studying Psychology, Criminology, and Social Work.
• Brian Anderson, a senior from Hodgenville, studying Economics, International Affairs and Asian Religions.
• Parker Anderson, a freshman from Hodgenville, studying English for Secondary Teachers.
• Zach Bernat, a sophomore from Canfield, Ohio, studying Communication.
• Casey Child, a senior from Taylor Mill, studying Economics, Marketing and Creative Writing.
• Derek Collins, a sophomore transfer from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, studying Political Science and Economics.
• Emmanuel Collins, a freshman from Elk River, Minnesota, studying Communication and Entrepreneurship.
• Sabas Del Toro, a senior from El Paso, Texas, studying Theater and History.
• Jessica Duncan, a freshman from Arnaudville, Louisiana, studying Public Relations and Theater.
• Madelynn Einhorn, a freshman from Oakwood, Ohio, studying Political Science.
• Ryan Gosling, a sophomore transfer from West Palm Beach, Florida, studying Political Science and Theater.
• Ben Hanson, a freshman from Louisville, studying Economics and Political Science.
• Natalie Hedberg, a senior from Chaska, Minnesota, studying Advertising and Graphic Design.
• Lane Hedrick, a senior from Morehead, studying History and Arabic.
• Reese Johnson, a freshman from Burnsville, Minnesota, studying Journalism and Film.
• Ashlyn Jones, a sophomore from Lafayette, Louisiana, studying Political Science and Environmental Science.
• Isaac Keller, a sophomore from Kansas City, Missouri, studying Political Science.
• Amanda Langford, a freshman from Goodlettsville, Tennessee, studying English for Secondary Teachers.
• Kelly Lingen, a freshman from Lakeville, Minnesota, studying Special Education.
• Faith LoPiccolo, a junior from Lexington, studying Criminology and Psychology.
• Corey Newsome, a sophomore from Morehead, studying Business and Economics.
• Tayland Ratliff, a sophomore from Youngsville, Louisiana, studying Marketing.
• Alex Rivera, a junior from Newton, Kansas, studying Economics and Philosophy.
• Kiyah Sanders, a sophomore from Apple Valley, Minnesota, studying Marketing.
• Kelly Stone, a senior from Louisburg, Kansas, studying Political Science and Economics.
• Anthony Survance, a junior from Louisville, studying Political Science, Philosophy, and Communication.
• Sal Tinajero Jr., a junior transfer from Santa Ana, California, studying Communication and Creative Writing.
• Emma Warnecke, a sophomore from West Bloomfield, Michigan, studying Business.
• Bradley Wascher, a junior from Montgomery, Alabama, studying Political Science.
• Tess Welch, a freshman from Houston, Texas studying Special Education and American Sign Language.
• Symone Whalin, a sophomore from Sonora, studying Chemistry and Biology.
• Rickey Williams, a sophomore from Minneapolis, Minnesota, studying Marketing.
• Matt Wisenden, a senior from Moorhead, Minnesota, studying Public Relations and Environmental Sustainability.

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

Contact: Ganer Newman, (270) 745-6340