Speech and Debate During a Pandemic

February 23, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every aspect of higher education, and intercollegiate speech and debate were no exception. The timing of the pandemic in the Spring of 2020 led to the cancellation of the activities’ national championships (the first such cancellation since the National Debate Tournament started in 1947). Despite an early end to the 2019-2020 season, UCO Speech and Debate busily prepped for a season of virtual competition starting in September of 2020.

Since the start of the 2020-2021 season, UCO Speech and Debate has competed around the country (virtually) and won quite a few awards. Two members of the speech team managed to qualify for the National Speech Tournament during the Fall competitions. Tasheonia Dozier (Sophomore, pictured left in white) automatically qualified in Dramatic Interpretation, Poetry, and Program Oral Interpretation with first-place finishes in the events at several tournaments in the Fall. Jacob Shults (Freshman, pictured left in grey) qualified for the National Speech Tournament by placing First at the District Qualifier tournament held on December 5, 2020.

Leading UCO’s debate team, Grant Colquitt (Senior) and Zach Huffman (Sophomore) have emerged as a nationally competitive team reaching elimination rounds at major national tournaments hosted by Gonzaga, Georgetown, and California State University – Fullerton. At Gonzaga, Grant and Zach finished in the Sweet 16 against some of the top programs in the country. This success is even more impressive given they prepared for the tournament when they had no power at home due to the unprecedented ice storm that came through Oklahoma City in late October. Grant and Zach hope to qualify for the National Debate Tournament at the District 3 Qualifying tournament hosted by UCO in February.

Pictured to the right, Joshua Reynolds (Freshman), and P.J. Taylor (Freshman) get ready to compete at the University of Wyoming Invitational Online.