WKU forensic team members traveled to Athens, Ohio, and Saint Louis, Mo., to take part in three tournaments the weekend of Jan. 28-29.

Ohio University hosted two tournaments, at which all 13 competing WKU students advanced to final rounds. WKU was crowned sweepstakes champion at the OU tournament and finished second at the OU Alumni tournament. Other competing schools included Ball State University, Bowling Green State University, Marshall University, Ohio State University, Seton Hall, George Mason University, Miami University, Ohio University and Marion University.

At the OU tournament, WKU sophomore Gabriella Devia-Allen was awarded third place in individual sweepstakes, a measure of overall individual success. At the OU Alumni portion, she was awarded fourth in individual sweepstakes.

WKU took 10 members of the debate squad to the Webster University “Gorlok Gala” in Saint Louis and placed third in overall sweepstakes behind McKendree University and Hillsdale College. WKU sophomore Spencer Orlowski was crowned the debate champion of the tournament, winning the final round of one of the most competitive invitational tournaments of the spring semester.

Next weekend, the team will compete at Murray State University.

Results from the University of Ohio “Appalachian Swing” tournaments are as follows:

• Sarah Brazier, a junior from Wadsworth, Ohio, tournament champion in dramatic interpretation and tournament champion in informative speaking in the OU portion; tournament champion in informative speaking in the OU Alumni portion.
• Gabriella Devia-Allen, a sophomore from Davie, Fla., tournament champion in communication analysis, second in poetry interpretation, fifth in prose interpretation and fifth in duo interpretation (with Ian Dowty) in the OU portion; tournament champion in poetry interpretation, fourth in duo interpretation (with Ian Dowty) and fifth in communication analysis in the OU Alumni portion.
• Amanda Waid, a junior from Symsonia, tournament champion in persuasive speaking, fourth in dramatic interpretation and fourth in poetry interpretation in the OU Alumni portion; tournament champion in persuasive speaking and fourth in poetry interpretation in the OU portion.
• Jamaque Newberry, a freshman from Tamarac, Fla., tournament champion in dramatic interpretation and second in poetry interpretation in the OU Alumni portion; second in dramatic interpretation and third in poetry interpretation in the OU portion.
• Celena Allen, a senior from Hayward, Calif., tournament champion in duo interpretation (with Mario Nguyen) and fourth in after-dinner speaking in the OU Alumni portion; second in duo interpretation (with Mario Nguyen) in the OU portion.
• Mario Nguyen, a senior from Plano, Texas, tournament champion in duo interpretation (with Celena Allen) in the OU Alumni portion; second in impromptu speaking and second in duo interpretation (with Celena Allen) in the OU portion.
• Ian Dowty, a freshman from Valley Center, Kan., second in informative speaking and fifth in duo interpretation (with Gabriella Devia-Allen) in the OU portion; fourth in duo interpretation (with Gabriella Devia-Allen) in the OU Alumni portion.
• Tiffany McLarty, a freshman from Bronx, N.Y., second in prose interpretation and third in informative speaking in the OU Alumni portion; fourth in prose interpretation and fifth in informative speaking in the OU portion.
• Justin Rodriguez, a sophomore from Coos Bay, Ore., second in persuasive speaking and third in prose interpretation in the OU Alumni portion; fourth in persuasive speaking in the OU portion.
• Marshall Covert, a sophomore from St. Paul, Minn., third in dramatic interpretation and third in duo interpretation (with Ray Roberts) in the OU portion; third in duo interpretation (with Ray Roberts) in the OU Alumni portion.
• Ray Roberts, a freshman from Houston, Texas, third in duo interpretation (with Marshall Covert) and fourth in after-dinner speaking in the OU portion; third in duo interpretation (with Marshall Covert) in the OU Alumni portion.
• Ellis Fraser, a freshman from Hodgenville, sixth in impromptu speaking in the OU portion.
• Kristina Medero, a freshman from Davie, Fla., sixth in poetry interpretation in the OU portion.

Results from the Webster “Gorlok Gala” are as follows:

• Spencer Orlowski, a sophomore from Davie, Fla., tournament champion in Lincoln-Douglas debate and seventh debate speaker.
• Frank Murdock, a senior from Kingston, Wash., top debate speaker and octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
• Matt Whitman, a senior from Austin, Texas, second debate speaker.
• Susan Taylor, a junior from Kansas City, Mo., semifinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate, sixth debate speaker and semifinalist in impromptu speaking.
• Alexis Elliott, a sophomore from Kansas City, Mo., fourth debate speaker and octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
• Tyler Prochazka, a freshman from Newton, Kan., semifinalist in extemporaneous speaking and quarterfinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
• Mitchell Grogg, a junior from Evansville, Ind., semifinalist in impromptu speaking.
• Nefertiti Dukes, a freshman from Miami Gardens, Fla., octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
• Liz Owens-Courtney, a senior from San Antonio, Texas, double-octofinalist in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Contact: Jace Lux, (270) 745-6340.