The Okarche High School speech team conducted one of Oklahoma’s first virtual speech tournaments recently.

Due to COVID-19, many speech and debate contests are choosing to “host” online rather than have a traditional in-person competition.

In a virtual speech tournament, students who compete in memorized, rehearsed events submit videos of their performances.

Students who take part in “live” events compete using their computers’ microphones and cameras.

Judges evaluate the performances and submit their ballots online.

Twelve schools submitted entries to the contest.

OHS had 12 qualifications in the competition. Five juniors led the team.

McKenzie Stewart was tournament champion in both original oratory and poetry.

Emily Neuenschwander was tournament champion in monologue and humorous interp.

Marley Hill and Kenzie Beard placed first in dramatic duet and Kaylea Steelman was tournament runner-up in humorous interp.

Three sophomores placed in events.

Kylie Bailey was first in standard oratory, second in prose and teamed with Riley Black to take second in dramatic duet.

Black also placed third in dramatic interp.

Emma Stover was third in standard oratory.

Three Okarche freshman also successfully competed.

Chloe Goble was second in monologue, Madison Schaefer was a finalist in prose and standard oratory and Afton Shirey received complimentary remarks from her judge in prose.

The OHS speech team will enter two more virtual contests this semester (Muskogee and Marlow) and then present a Christmas play in conjunction with a dinner in mid-December.