Western Kentucky University forensic team won its ninth National Forensic Association National Tournament championship in debate and its seventh championship in individual events in record-setting fashion this week.

WKU set records in sweeping both the NFA national debate tournament and the NFA national individual events tournament April 15-19 in Athens, Ohio.

In debate, WKU placed first by the widest margin in NFA history with Lafayette College second and Central Michigan University third. The tournament had 84 debaters competing. WKU was the first school in NFA history to advance 100 percent of its debaters from double-octofinals to octofinals, advancing a record seven debaters to elimination rounds. The previous record was five.

In individual events, WKU placed first with the widest margin in the history of NFA. Bradley University was second and Illinois State University placed third.

WKU also won four NFA individual championships this year, which was more than any other team. National champions were Kaleb Jessee in Lincoln-Douglas debate, Seth Peckham in extemporaneous speaking, Jerome Davis in dramatic interpretation and Todd Rainey in impromptu speaking.

The National Forensic Association tournament is the largest national tournament, with 76 schools competing in individual events and 22 schools competing in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Earlier this month, WKU competed at the American Forensic Association National Individual Events Tournament in Eau-Claire, Wis., and finished second to Bradley University.

“Instead of whining when we came in second to Bradley at AFA, we got busy and focused on sending a very strong message about who was actually the better team,” said Judy Woodring, forensic director. “I believe the message was received as we beat them by over 80 points. This was probably the sweetest victory since our first national championship.

“We had an outstanding group of seniors who motivated the rest of the team to pick up the pace and excel. People often ask me what’s the key to our continued success.  I think I have finally come up with an answer: Love what you do, do it to the best of your ability and never have any regrets.”

Individual results from the National Forensic Association National Tournament on April 15-19 are as follows:

• Kaleb Jessee, a senior from Garden City, Kan., national champion in Lincoln-Douglas debate and second debate speaker (tied for first).
• Seth Peckham, a senior from Alden, Kan., national champion in extemporaneous speaking, fourth in impromptu speaking, seventh in pentathalon, quarterfinalist in after-dinner speaking and quarterfinalist in persuasive speaking.
• Jerome Davis, a senior from Austell, Ga., national champion in dramatic interpretation and quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Jamaka Young).
• Todd Rainey, a junior from Indianapolis, national champion in impromptu speaking and semifinalist in extemporaneous speaking.
• Carrie Guggenmos, a senior from Fullerton, Calif., second in poetry interpretation, fourth in duo interpretation (with Ethan Millspaugh), fifth in pentathalon, fifth in dramatic interpretation and semifinalist in informative speaking.
• Ganer Newman, a senior from Sherman Oaks, Calif., second in communication analysis, eighth in pentathalon, semifinalist in poetry interpretation, semifinalist in after-dinner speaking, quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Robert Whittley) and quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Ethan Millspaugh).
• Chelsea Harman, a junior from Hickory, second in informative speaking.
• Jessica Furgerson, a senior from San Antonio, Texas, fifth in impromptu speaking, sixth in persuasive speaking, seventh debate speaker, 12th in pentathalon, quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate and quarterfinalist in extemporaneous speaking.
• Ethan Millspaugh, a junior from Coppell, Texas, fourth in duo interpretation (with Carrie Guggenmos) and quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Ganer Newman).
• Tatiana Mackins-Burton, a freshman from Burnsville, Minn., fourth in informative speaking.
• Samantha Harrison, a senior from Carrollton, Texas, sixth in communication analysis, quarterfinalist in after-dinner speaking and quarterfinalist in poetry interpretation.
• Elizabeth Mullins, a senior from Plymouth, Mass., fifth debate speaker and octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
• Adam Swanson, a senior from Rosemount, Minn., semifinalist in poetry interpretation, semifinalist in informative speaking, quarterfinalist in prose interpretation, quarterfinalist in after-dinner speaking, quarterfinalist in dramatic interpretation and quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Adam Bouchareb).
• Mario Nguyen, a sophomore from Plano, Texas, semifinalist in impromptu speaking, semifinalist in informative speaking, quarterfinalist in communication analysis and quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Celena Allen).
• Jamaka Young, a sophomore from Burnsville, Minn., semifinalist in poetry interpretation and quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Jerome Davis).
• Celena Allen, a sophomore from Hayward, Calif., semifinalist in dramatic interpretation and quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Mario Nguyen).
• Robert Whittley, a junior from Glenview, Ill., quarterfinalist in informative speaking, quarterfinalist in dramatic interpretation and quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Ganer Newman).
• Sarah Spiker, a junior from Snohomish, Wash., quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate and quarterfinalist in informative speaking.
• Kelcy Hathaway, a senior from Garden City, Kan., quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate and quarterfinalist in persuasive speaking.
• Adam Bouchareb, a freshman from Lakeville, Minn., quarterfinalist in prose interpretation and quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Adam Swanson).
• Taron Grizzell, a sophomore from Union City, Calif., quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Alex Wozencraft).
• Liz Owens, a junior from San Antonio, Texas, quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
• Matt Whitman, a sophomore from Austin, Texas, quarterfinalist in extemporaneous speaking.
• Colby Holt, a junior from Paducah, quarterfinalist in communication analysis.
• Desiree Guerrero, a junior from Fullerton, Calif., quarterfinalist in after-dinner speaking.
• Maggie Woodward, a sophomore from Collierville, Tenn., quarterfinalist in persuasive speaking.
• Alexander Wozencraft, a sophomore from Tulsa, Okla., quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Taron Grizzell).
• Wilian Iralzabal, a sophomore from Union City, Calif., quarterfinalist in poetry interpretation.
• Kelly Lootz, a junior from Plymouth, Mass., quarterfinalist in poetry interpretation.
• Frank Murdock, a sophomore from Kingston, Wash., octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
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• Individual results from the American Forensic Association National Individual Events Tournament on April 2-5 are as follows:
• Ganer Newman, a senior from Sherman Oaks, Calif., national champion in poetry interpretation, national champion in communication analysis, second in programmed oral interpretation, sixth in individual sweepstakes and quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Ethan Millspaugh).
• Jerome Davis, a senior from Austell, Ga., second in duo interpretation (with Jamaka Young) and quarterfinalist in programmed oral interpretation.
• Jamaka Young, a sophomore from Burnsville, Minn., second in duo interpretation (with Jerome Davis).
• Seth Peckham, a senior from Alden, Kan., third in impromptu speaking, ninth in individual sweepstakes, semifinalist in extemporaneous speaking, semifinalist in informative speaking and quarterfinalist in after-dinner speaking.
• Carrie Guggenmos, a senior from Fullerton, Calif., 10th in individual sweepstakes, semifinalist in poetry interpretation, semifinalist in programmed oral interpretation, quarterfinalist in prose interpretation, quarterfinalist in informative speaking and quarterfinalist in communication analysis.
• Adam Swanson, a senior from Rosemount, Minn., third in after-dinner speaking.
• Tatiana Mackins-Burton, a freshman from Burnsville, Minn., sixth in informative speaking.
• Chelsea Harman, a junior from Hickory, semifinalist in programmed oral interpretation and quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Robert Whittley).
• Robert Whittley, a junior from Glenview, Ill., semifinalist in dramatic interpretation and quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Chelsea Harman).
• Samantha Harrison, a senior from Carrollton, Texas, semifinalist in communication analysis and quarterfinalist in after-dinner speaking.
• Jessica Furgerson, a senior from San Antonio, Texas, quarterfinalist in impromptu speaking, quarterfinalist in informative speaking and quarterfinalist in extemporaneous speaking.
• Mario Nguyen, a sophomore from Plano, Texas, quarterfinalist in impromptu speaking and quarterfinalist in persuasive speaking.
• Todd Rainey, a junior from Indianapolis, quarterfinalist in impromptu speaking and quarterfinalist in extemporaneous speaking.
• Ethan Millspaugh, a junior from Coppell, Texas, quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Ganer Newman) and quarterfinalist in poetry interpretation.
• Taron Grizzell, a sophomore from Union City, Calif., quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Alex Wozencraft).
• Alexander Wozencraft, a sophomore from Tulsa, Okla., quarterfinalist in duo interpretation (with Taron Grizzell).
• Maggie Woodward, a sophomore from Collierville, Tenn., quarterfinalist in persuasive speaking.
• Kelly Lootz, a junior from Plymouth, Mass., quarterfinalist in poetry interpretation.
• Jeffrey Boggess, a senior from Hayward, Calif., quarterfinalist in poetry interpretation.