The Western Kentucky University Forensic Team won its 17th consecutive Kentucky Forensic Association State Championship over the weekend at Berea College.

The WKU squad swept all other competitors in the state and earned 11 state individual titles along the way. WKU placed first in overall team sweepstakes, as well as in large school sweepstakes and parliamentary debate sweepstakes.

Barry Fields, a senior from Bowling Green, captured the pentathlon award, given to the competitor with the highest point total in five or more events.

Fields also received the Harlan Hamm Award, presented to a deserving senior and voted upon by KFA member coaches. He also was tournament champion in informative speaking, second parliamentary debate speaker, semifinalist in parliamentary debate (with Brian Bloss), third in extemporaneous speaking, third in impromptu speaking, third in rhetorical criticism and sixth in after-dinner speaking.