Members of the Okarche High School speech team brought home the Class 3A fourth-place sweepstakes plaque from the state speech and debate tournament held April 8-9 on the campus of the University of Oklahoma.

Okarche was only three points away from second place and one point out of third in a close competition that saw Riverfield Country Day School take the state championship, Cherokee finish as state runner-up and Haskell take third.

OHS had two students crowned state champions: senior McKenzie Stewart in poetry and freshman Zoe Palmer in prose.

Stewart also placed seventh in original oratory and Palmer was fourth in standard oratory.

Two other seniors claimed state medals.

Marley Hill was fourth in original oratory and eighth in monologue.

Emily Neuenschwander was third in humorous interpretation.

Okarche had three juniors receive state medals.

Kylie Bailey was seventh in dramatic interpretation and eighth in poetry.

Riley Black was fifth in humorous interpretation and Wyatt Lovins placed fifth in dramatic interpretation.

Two sophomores won awards.

Rylie Bomhoff was third in prose and teamed with Reagan Marler to place sixth in humorous duet.

Also competing at the state tournament and contributing to the team award were Kenzie Beard, Madison Schaefer, Emma Stover, Chloe Goble, Afton Shirey, Anna Shirey and Suzann Smith.

The team is coached by Lyndal Westmoreland.