UK Forensics Team Wins Transylvania University Tournament

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 8, 2015) — The UK Forensics Team finished the fall forensics season with another win at the WYRD Invitational hosted by Transylvania University Dec. 4-5.

UK placed first in team sweepstakes, which combines the points earned from all speech events and debate formats. Of the 54 events or debate teams entered at the tournament, 39 advanced to an elimination round. Additionally, sophomore Rachel Brase was crowned tournament champion in pentathlon after advancing to the finals in eight different events. Senior Logan Hurley took third place in pentathlon and junior Brynne Reilly tied for sixth.

“It was a great way to finish the semester,” said Director of Forensics Timothy Bill. “I could not be prouder of the team. They’ve worked hard all semester to get to this point.”

In addition to the awards and recognition won at the tournament, the team also qualified for another 12 events for the National Forensic Association national tournament in April. This brings the total number of qualifications for the season to 26 — a new team record. The team has the opportunity to continue to qualify for new events through March.

Team members from UK who won the following awards at the WYRD Invitational:

After Dinner Speaking

1^st Place – Dianté Elcock

Communication Analysis

1^st Place – Logan Hurley

Drama Interpretation

1^st Place – Dianté Elcock

2^nd Place – Kaylon Kennedy

Duo Interpretation

2^nd Place – Rachel Brase and Kaylon Kennedy

3^rd Place – Logan Hurley and Brynne Reilly

Editorial Impromptu Speaking

2^nd Place – Veronica Scott

3^rd Place – Rachel Brase

4^th Place – Sam Northrup

Extemporaneous Speaking

1^st Place – Logan Hurley

3^rd Place – Brynne Reilly

4^th Place – Sam Northrup

Impromptu Eulogizing

2^nd Place – Rachel Brase

4^th Place – Sam Northrup

Impromptu Speaking

1^st Place – Rachel Brase

3^rd Place – Matt Karijolic

5^th Place – Logan Hurley

Impromptu Storytelling

2^nd Place – Rachel Brase

3^rd Place – Talha Muhammad

Informative Speaking

1^st Place – Logan Hurley

2^nd Place – Matt Karijolic

Radio Broadcasting

1^st Place – Brynne Reilly

Persuasive Speaking

3^rd Place – Talha Muhammad

6^th Place – Sam Northrup

7^th Place – Veronica Scott

Parliamentary Debate – Novice Division

1^st Place – Dianté Elcock and Veronica Scott

2^nd Place – Matt Karijolic and Talha Muhammad

Parliamentary Debate – Novice Speaker Awards

1^st Place – Veronica Scott

2^nd Place – Dianté Elcock

4^th Place – Matt Karijolic

6^th Place – Talha Muhammad

Parliamentary Debate – Open Division

1^st Place – Brynne Reilly and Megan Wagner

2^nd Place – Logan Hurley and Sam Northrup

Semifinalists – Rachel Brase and Kaylon Kennedy

Parliamentary Debate – Open Speaker Awards

2^nd Place – Sam Northrup

4^th Place – Logan Hurley

5^th Place – Megan Wagner

7^th Place – Kaylon Kennedy

8^th Place – Rachel Brase

Poetry Interpretation

2^nd Place – Dianté Elcock

3^rd Place – Rachel Brase

5^th Place – Kaylon Kennedy

Program Oral Interpretation

1^st Place – Dianté Elcock

3^rd Place – Kaylon Kennedy

4^th Place – Brynne Reilly

Prose Interpretation

2^nd Place – Rachel Brase

Public Debate – Novice Division

2^nd Place – Dianté Elcock

Semifinalist – Talha Muhammad

Public Debate – Novice Speaker Awards

1^st Place – Dianté Elcock

2^nd Place – Matt Karijolic

6^th Place – Talha Muhammad

Public Debate – Open Speaker Awards

3^rd Place – Megan Wagner

7^th Place – Kaylon Kennedy

The University of Kentucky Forensics Team’s next competition will be the Hatfield and McCoy Swing tournament the team will be cohosting with Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, Jan. 23-24, 2016.

UK Forensics is a student organization in the School of Information Science. The team regularly competes in 12 different public speaking events in three forms of debate. To find out more, please visit ukforensics.com.