Each year under the instruction of Bristow High School Speech and Debate Coach Jessica Frizzell, students compete in 6 to 8 tournaments in preparation for state competitions through the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association, OSSAA. Additionally, BPS students compete in March in the East Oklahoma District of the National Speech and Debate Association, NSDA, against schools in the eastern portion of the state, including Jenks, Booker T. Washington, Union, Fort Gibson, Ada, and more, to reach nationals—the highest level of speech and debate competitions. This year, 2 BHS speech and debate students made it to nationals and will be leaving on Sunday to compete.
With so many students competing to earn a spot at nationals, competition proves fierce. Frizzell stated “After rigorous competition, Bristow qualified two students for the tournament this year: Junior, Eva Roberts, who will be competing in an event called Dramatic Interpretation; and Sophomore, Makenna Hooks, who will be competing in an event called Program of Oral Interpretation.” Both students placed in the top 3 of their events to be able to make it to nationals. She explained that Roberts and Hooks will be competing throughout the week, hoping to make it to the final round.
Prior to reaching the final round, the students may have to compete in as many as 12 rounds to make the final 6 in their competitive event categories. Hundreds of students compete in each event category, according to Frizzell, so making the top 6 will be an accomplished feat in and of itself.
Roberts will compete in Dramatic Interpretation, which requires impeccable memory. Frizzell explained, saying “Dramatic Interpretation, or ‘DI’ for short, is a fully memorized event where the competitor has 10 minutes to perform a portion of a dramatic script, commonly taken from a book or memoir.”
For her part, Hooks will perform a Program of Oral Interpretation. Frizzell noted it also has a 10-minute time restriction but varies in presentation from DI as the competitor is not performing a dramatization of a memorized piece. Rather, Frizzell explained it, saying “Program of Oral Interpretation, or ‘POI’ for short, is a combination of different types of literature that are
See Nationals , Page Three
courtesy photo woven together around a central theme to create a narrative.”
The Speech and Debate National Tournament will take place from June 16 through June 22 in Des Moines, Iowa, this year, where more than 6,000 competitors from across the country will converge to battle it out until the very best in the nation remain to be named national champions. On behalf of BHS’ Speech and Debate Program and her students, Frizzell noted, “We are proud to be making our 11th appearance at nationals this year, our 5th consecutive appearance.”
Please be sure to reach out to Bristow City Councilman Jeff Roberts if you wish to support the young ladies prior to their Sunday departure. According to the City of Bristow website, he may be contacted at 918-671-4554.