Maci Miller 

Writer

The Marlow Outlaw Speech Team (MOST) traveled to the University of Tulsa on Friday. April 14 to compete in the Class 4A State Speech and Debate Competition.

Students are able to join the drama program at Marlow High School starting their freshman year by enrolling in the Drama I class. 

In that class students learn the art of memorizing and performing small pieces and work their way up to learning bigger and more intense pieces, and even perform some of their pieces in front of judges at contests.

These contests start in the fall, giving the performers many months to prepare for the state level. 

To qualify for the state contest each individual must have placed at least fourth place in the regional contest, which was held March 24-25.

Sixteen students ended up earning a top four placing, sending them to state. 

All of these placings allowed MOST to win the Regional Sweepstakes.

After regionals, all of the contestants had three weeks to mend and perfect their qualifying pieces. 

Senior McKenna Travis is a four year member of MOST, however, joining drama was not always her plan.

“I actually did not want to take Drama I my freshman year. I really wanted to take art, and I was really devastated when I didn’t get in. But, I ended up loving it, so I kept taking other drama classes with Mrs. McConnell and here I am my senior year still in it and now going to state again,” explained Travis.

Travis competed in Monologue, Poetry  and Dramatic Duet with fellow senior Tyler Hertzler.

Sophomore Katelyn Cullum has been involved in the drama program for two years now. 

“I joined drama because I love motivational speaking and have a hope to inspire others to do the same,” expressed Cullum.

Cullum qualified for state by placing third in Standard Oratory. 

Since then she has worked hard on it. 

“I have practiced my oratory at least an hour everyday since regionals,” stated Cullum.

“It is really important to me to perfect and make sure I know it well.”

Travis also put forth a great effort for her pieces before state.

“I have run my piece countless times re-blocking it, re-memorizing it and just doing everything to make it perfect,” expressed Travis.

Travis has experience under her belt with earning two eighth place titles in 2022.

Cullum also competed at state her freshman year, so she was prepared for the higher stakes as well.

“I competed in both Standard Oratory and a Dramatic Duet and placed seventh in Standard Oratory,” said Cullum.

On the first day of the state contest, all qualifying contestants had to go through different rounds to make it to the next round. 

Round I finalists included sophomores  Lilly Anderson, Conner Murrah, Micheal Weston and Jackson Witt in Prose,  juniors Chesnie Stuart and Josh Parsons and seniors Jordan Brown and Bryce Duncan in Dramatic Duets, and senior Tyler Hertzler in Original Oratory.

The Round II finalists were Witt and Anderson in SO, and Weston and Brown and Murrah and Gavin Cain in Humorous Duets.

Overall awards were earned by Weston and Brown who got fourth place in their Humorous Duet and Brown and Duncan who were the State Runner-Ups in Dramatic Duet.

MOST was also named the Academic State Champions and was sixth overall in sweepstakes with a total of eleven medalists.

The Marlow Outlaw Speech team had a very successful speech and debate season and will continue to work towards next year’s season to get even better.