Okarche High School won its 23rd southwest regional speech and debate title and advanced 12 students in 17 events to the state speech and debate tournament.

The regional competition, held on March 15-16 on the campus of Southwestern Oklahoma State University, drew contestants from 12 Class 3A schools. Okarche was first, followed by Navajo and Mangum, respectively.

Four OHS seniors qualified for state.

Katie Bomhoff was regional champion in original oratory and humorous duet with her brother Rob. She was also regional runner-up in poetry.

Rob Bomhoff, in addition to his championship with Katie, brought home two third-place medals: one in humorous interp and one in dramatic duet with junior teammate Carsyn Taylor.

Jaxcey Beauchamp was regional champion in monologue and a finalist in humorous interp.

Sara Bomhoff was regional runner-up in domestic extemp and a finalist in both dramatic interp and poetry.

A fifth senior, Harley Dunkin, is the alternate to state in monologue, having placed fifth.

Two juniors advanced to state.

Carsyn Taylor was third indramaticinterpandfourth in poetry in addition to the third place finish in dramatic duet with Rob Bomhoff. Matt Carney teamed with sophomore Micheal Smoot to bring home the third place medal in humorous duet.

Fellow sophomores Lyric Hickok and Jack Schroeder will join Smoot at state. Hickok teamed with freshman Emily Neuenschwander to claim the regional runner-up medals in humorous duet, and Schroeder was fourth in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Neuenschwander is one of three freshmen to earn a trip to state. Not only did she qualify in humorous duet, but also in prose, having placed third.

McKenzie Stewart will take two events to state as she was regional champion in standard oratory and runner-up in prose.

Angelica Mojica qualified two events for state as she was fourth in both prose and standard oratory.

Other finalists contributing points were Mikaila Kraus in humorous interp and dramatic duet with teammate Jacilyn Pannel and Bridget Himes in standard oratory.

State will be April 4-6 at the University of Oklahoma.