The Okarche Speech Team won its 24th Southwest Regional Speech and Debate title Saturday, March 27.
OHS claimed the first-place sweepstakes plaque from the event, which was being held virtually this year due to COVID. Crescent placed second, and Lawton Academy took third.
As a state qualifying competition, the tournament results determine which students will compete at the state competition in April.
Okarche advances 15 students in 22 events to state. Emily Neuenschwander was regional champion in three events: monologue, humorous interp, and humorous duet with her partner, Emma Stover. McKenzie Stewart was champion in poetry and original oratory and claimed runner-up medals in humorous duet with teammate Kaylea Steelman. Steelman was also third in humorous interp.
The team of Marley Hill and Kenzie Beard led a sweep of the top five places in dramatic duet: Riley Black and Kylie Bailey were second, Afton Shirey and Chloe Goble were third, Brody Sadler and Madison Schaefer were fourth, and Rylie Bomhoff and Reagan Marler were fifth.
Another Okarche sweep of the qualifications occurred in standard oratory. Kylie Bailey was first, Madison Schaefer was second, Kera Avilez was third, and Emma Stover was fourth. Schaefer was also tournament champion in prose and Avila was fourth.
Kylie Bailey placed third in dramatic interp, Riley Black was fourth in humorous interp, Chloe Goble was second in monologue, and Coble and her partner, Afton Shirey, were fourth in humorous duet.
The OHS Speech Team, in addition to getting ready for state competition, is also working on their contest one-act play for May.
