Dear Coach and Team,        

The Platte County High School Speech and Debate Team would like to invite you to the Platte County Talking Pirate Varsity Tournament. The tournament will be held January 26-27, 2024. Our Varsity tournament is also a National Individual Event Tournament of Champions (NIETOC) bid tournament. Depending on entry numbers, students advancing to qualifying rounds will earn one official bid for the 2024 NIETOC Championship to be held May 10-12, 2024, in Bellevue, NE.

We will host Lincoln Douglas Debate, Public Forum Debate, International Extemp, Original Oratory, Humorous Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, Program of Oral Interp, United States Extemp, Duo Interpretation, Duet Acting, Informative Speaking, Storytelling, Live Radio Speaking, Student Congress (December docket). **During the Friday Debate rounds, we will also offer Improv Duet Acting.

In an effort to provide maximum opportunities for competitors, we ask that each school provide at least one judge.  We will always take more!  Please enter all your judges in Speechwire or have your judges fill out the Talking Pirates Judge Form at www.tinyurl.com/TalkingPirateJudge2024.

Entry fees are $8 per individual and $10 per team event. All entries are due by 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 17, 2024, in Speechwire. Teams will be responsible for any drops after Tuesday, January 23, 5pm.

Each school shall be guaranteed up to two entries in each competitive event offered with the exception of Improv Duet Acting in which schools will be guaranteed one entry.  Extra entries will be granted on a basis of space and judge availability beginning Wednesday, January 24. 

Direct any questions to Trisch Vessar (816) 858-2822 (school), (816) 508-5408 (work cell), or vessarp@platteco.k12.mo.us.

Full tournament invite can be found here.

Trisch Vessar, Head Speech & Debate Coach 

Kristen Melies, Assistant Coach