The WKU Forensics Team poses during the College LD Grand Prix.

Western Kentucky Forensics took first in open and combined sweepstakes at the College LD Grand Prix March 16-17, hosted on campus.

The team also won sweepstakes at the Asynchronous Speech Championship hosted online March 19-24.

At the Grand Prix, WKU advanced 88% of its entries to elimination rounds, represented by students in the Top 4 of all divisions by experience level (novice, junior varsity, and open.) WKU placed first in open sweepstakes, by accumulating the most points in the championship division. WKU also placed first in combined sweepstakes by accumulating the most points across all three divisions. WKU finished ahead of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Washburn University, and the University of North Texas.

Sophomore Rae Fournier of Woodbridge, Virginia, and freshman Nik Schintgen of Lansing, Kansas, were named to the 2024 All-American team. This is voted on by the LD Coaches Association and recognizes the top 10 competitors in the country on the basis of their success at invitational tournaments during the season. Sophomore Kole Ingram of Hindman was named one of three emerging debaters of the year, given to students in their first year of debate competition. Director of Debate Chad Meadows was recognized by the LD Coaches Association as the Coach of the Year.

At the Asynchronous Speech Championship, WKU advanced 62 percent of its entries to elimination rounds, placing at least one student in the top 12 in all 11 events and winning eight of the 11 championships. Ultimately, WKU placed first in sweepstakes ahead of the University of Illinois, Chicago, Wayne State University, and Ball State University.

WKU earned seven of the top 10 individual sweepstakes awards, led by junior Cecilia Alali of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, who placed second in individual sweepstakes. Additionally, senior Rashon LeDay of Lafayette, Louisiana, placed eighth; freshman Jade Ismail of Lafayette, Louisiana, placed seventh; junior Christian Butterfield of Bowling Green placed sixth; senior Samantha Sallee of Danville placed fifth; junior Jonah Johnson of Burnsville, Minnesota, placed fourth; and senior Mauricio Patiño of Stockton, California, placed third.

Across the two tournaments, WKU finished first ahead of over 50 universities from across the country in competitive speech and debate activities.

Results from the College LD Grand Prix are

Novice LD Debate

Speaker: Yasmina Muradova of Bowling Green, 3rd

Place: Yasmina Muradova, 3rd

Junior Varsity LD Debate

Speaker: Kole Ingram of Hindman, 2nd; JaKayla Brown of Kansas City, Kansas, 3rd

Place: JaKayla Brown, 3rd; Kole Ingram, 6th

Varsity LD Debate

Speaker: Rae Fournier, 2nd; Antonina Clementi of Lafayette, Louisiana, 8th; Nik Schintgen, 9th

Place: Rae Fournier, Champion; Nik Schintgen, 3rd; Antonina Clementi, 11th; and Chase Shockley, 14th

Results from the Asynchronous Speech Championship are as follows:

After Dinner Speaking

Quarterfinalists: Collin Tuerk of Morehead

Semifinalists: Joseph Eberle of Maple Grove, Minnesota

Finalists: Christian Butterfield, Champion; Jade Ismail, 4th

Communication Analysis

Semifinalist: Cecilia Alali, Jaleon Brown of Raytown, Missouri

Finalists: Jade Ismail, Champion; and Tani Washington of Henrico, Virginia, 4th

Dramatic Interpretation

Quarterfinalists: Jonah Johnson

Semifinalists: Noah Gordon of Pittsburg, California; Micah Poole of Lafayette, Louisiana; and Cecilia Alali

Finalists: Jade Ismail, 2nd; Samantha Sallee, 3rd; Mauricio Patiño, 4th; and Rashon Leday, 5th

Duo Interpretation

Semifinalists: Denise Marin of Houston, Texas, and Caroline Chubb of Lewis Center, Ohio; Finn Larson of Moorhead, Minnesota, and Somtoo Nkurumeh of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Finalists: Samantha Sallee and Mauricio Patino, Champion; Noah Gordon and Jonah Johnson, 2nd; Jade Ismail and Cecilia Alali, 4th; Rashon Leday and Jonah Johnson, 5th

Extemporaneous Speaking

Semifinalists: Ryder Hebert of Madison, Mississippi; Tani Washington

Finalist: Christian Butterfield, Champion

Impromptu Speaking

Quarterfinalists: Danielle Williams of Goodlettsville, Tennessee; and Joseph Eberle, Caroline Chubb

Finalist: Cecilia Alali, 3rd

Informative Speaking

Quarterfinalists: Christian Butterfield and Ryder Hebert

Semifinalists: Mauricio Patiño, Rashon LeDay and Jonah Johnson

Finalist: Samantha Sallee and Tani Washington, Champion; and Jaleon Brown, 4th

Persuasive Speaking

Quarterfinalists: Caroline Chubb

Semifinalist: Cecilia Alali and Danielle Williams

Poetry Interpretation

Quarterfinalists: Karon Petty of Houston, Texas; and Mauricio Patiño

Finalists: Jonah Johnson, Champion; Cecilia Alali, 2nd; and Somtoo Nkurumeh, 5th

Program Oral Interpretation

Quarterfinalists: Collin Tuerk and Finn Larson

Semifinalists: Sophie Todaro of St. Paul, Minnesota; and Samantha Sallee

Finalists: Mauricio Patiño, Champion; Rashon Leday, 2nd; and Christian Butterfield, 6th

Prose Interpretation

Quarterfinalists: Kirsten Eversmann of Harrisburg, Illinois; Somtoo Nkurumeh, Denise Marin and Rashon Leday

Semifinalists: Jonah Johnson, Samantha Sallee and Tani Washington

Finalists: Cecilia Alali, Champion; Caroline Chubb, 3rd; and Micah Poole, 6th.