WKU sent 23 competitors with a total of 66 entries (the maximum allowed at the competition) to the national tournament. Of the 66 total entries, 44 advanced to quarterfinal rounds (top 24), 30 advanced to the semifinal round (top 12), and 19 events made it to the final rounds (top 6) of competition.
WKU was crowned team sweepstakes champion with 609 points, while the University of Texas at Austin placed second with 433 points and Bradley University placed third with 376.5 points. This is the largest margin of victory in at least the past decade. The AFA National Speech Tournament hosted 420 students with 1,200 total entries from 72 universities including the University of Alabama, George Mason University, Yale University, Cornell University and Vanderbilt University.
In addition to the team’s success, forensics team members captured seven of the top 20 individual sweepstakes awards -- a measure of individual success across multiple events of competition. Senior Derek Collins of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was named second overall; senior Ryan Gosling of West Palm Beach, Florida, was named third overall; and senior Rahmane Dixon of Houston, Texas, placed 10th overall.
WKU seniors Derek Collins and Emma Warnecke of Detroit, Michigan, were recognized as two of the 19 members of the AFA All-American Team for their work in the community, as scholars, and as leaders. One school receiving two such awards is a rare achievement.
In the 11 categories offered at the tournament, WKU students captured five national championship titles, tying the record for number of individual event championships at the tournament. Students winning national titles include Ryan Gosling and Derek Collins in Duo Interpretation, Ryan Gosling in Poetry Interpretation, Rahmane Dixon in Impromptu Speaking, Jo Headrick in After Dinner Speaking, and Paige Allbright in Dramatic Interpretation.
Next up, the WKU team will compete at the National Forensics Association Championship Tournament, hosted virtually April 16-19.
