Muldrow speech and debate celebrates another State Championship

The Muldrow Speech and Debate team has been crowned the 2023 4A State Champions for the sixth time in the program’s history.

Under the leadership of Chris and Erin Larcade, the Bulldogs set out for competition this season with their gold glitter, red crocs, and a host of supportive families and community partners. Starting in November 2022, they competed in nine regular-season tournaments across the state to claim 51 qualifications for regional competition. In March, Muldrow earned the Southeast Regional Championship with 26 qualifications for the State Tournament held at the University of Tulsa.

Although Muldrow won their respective region, the team came into the state tournament in fourth place by qualifications.

“I knew from the beginning that for our game plan to be successful, the stars would have to be aligned, and everyone would have to do more than what they believed they were capable of doing,” Coach Chris Larcade said. “Some of these kids have never been at this level of competition before, and we were going to be asking a lot of them.”

The Bulldog Speech and Debate Team secured 20 state finalists out of their 26 entries. Muldrow outscored top-ranked Mount Saint Mary, 64 to 60 to claim the state title.

“Speech is universal, and to be successful, you’ve got to have students who do more than just speech and debate. This trophy represents more than a great competition season; it’s the students’ award for what they do every day,” Larcade said.

“Our team is comprised of student-athletes, cheerleaders, band members and leaders in FFA, FCCLA, Student Council and every organization on our campus. These students hold part-time jobs, are leaders in local youth ministries, and spend hours volunteering in our community. They excel in academics, many at the top of their class. They operate cameras, announce the Homecoming royalty, and work tirelessly behind the scenes to promote the best of Muldrow High School.”

The following students vied well in the competition:

• Original Oratory, Ella Webster-Baker received seventh, and Jaci Walker was a state qualifier

• Standard Oratory, Jason Fricks, Makayla Hopping and Aiden Jennings were state qualifiers

• Interpretation of Prose, Mason Brignac earned a state runner-up title with a second-place finish

• Dramatic Interpretation, Lily Gibson placed fourth

• Humorous Interpretation, Luke Hallum is a state champion with a first-place finish, and Nick Rhodes received seventh

• Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking, Dawson Smith earned fourth

• Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking, Jaci Walker placed third, Izzy Swafford placed fourth, and Jason Fricks placed seventh

• Monologue, Ella Webster-Baker earned a state runner-up title with a second-place finish, and Brooke Frost was a state qualifier

• Interpretation of Poetry, Ella Claborn is a state champion with a first-place finish

• Humorous Duet, Luke Hallum and Ella Webster-Baker earned a state runner-up title with a second-place finish

• Dramatic Duet, Cade Armer and Drew Luttrell received third, Luke Hallum and Jaci Walker received fourth, and Lily Gibson and Izzy Swafford received sixth

• Policy Team Debate, Ella Claborn and Lily Gibson earned fourth, Jason Fricks and Dawson Smith earned seventh, and Cade Armer and Matt Cook were state qualifiers

• Public Forum Debate, Drew Luttrell and Nick Rhodes placed fifth, and Ely Moore and Bryson Swafford placed eighth

• Lincoln Douglas Debate, Izzy Swafford earned a state runner-up title with a second-place finish