Dear Colleagues,

 

The Marian High School Speech Team is hosting its annual Junior High Crusader Invitational Speech Tournament for middle school students on Friday, April 10, 2026. This tournament offers 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students the opportunity to present speeches, learn from the competition, and explore their speaking and acting abilities. We hope to see you there!  

 

Please register your entries by 5:00 pm on Wednesday, April 8. Entries will only be accepted using SpeechWire. 

 

We are very excited to host you and your students! If you have any questions, please email Jen Christen at christen@omahamarian.org. More information about the tournament is detailed below.

We look forward to seeing you in April!

 

Sincerely,

Marian Speech Team

Coaches - Elizabeth Fagerland, Jenny Philbin, and Mary Pistillo

 

 

AWARDS: Trophies will be presented to first-place winners. Medals will be awarded to other finalists. Sweepstakes trophies will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams. We will award up to 10th place for events with over 30 speakers; otherwise, awards will be given to the top 6 finishers. 

 

ENTRIES AND ENTRY CAPS: Each event is capped at six entries per school. If you have more than six entries for an event, your entries will be put on a waitlist via SpeechWire, and we will try to accommodate them as space allows. 

 

--If any event category has fewer than seven entries for the tournament, we will drop that category. 

--Competitors may triple-enter enter but make sure your students know they must move quickly. Extemp speakers will have difficulty being double-entered due to the time slots for that event. Extemp speakers may not triple-enter.

 

JUDGES: PLEASE BRING 1 QUALIFIED JUDGE FOR EVERY FIVE ENTRIES. Judges may be qualified varsity members from high school teams, but please train them to judge every event and stress the importance of lots of positive feedback and constructive criticism. Many high school coaches would happily help you fill judging requirements with their students. If you need contact information for coaches, please email Jen. Coaches are always welcome to judge. If you use parent judges, please ensure they are trained on the norms of the event and understand how to judge. You are welcome to bring extra judges if you have any. If you have a large entry, I may not be able to use your judges logistically. I will notify you before the contest date if all judges are unnecessary.

 

EXTEMP PREP: We will allow computers in extemp prep per the high school NSAA rules. We will also allow open internet. 

 

ONLINE BALLOTS: We will be hosting a paperless tournament with online ballots. All judges must have an iPad or a laptop to judge from. Students will receive their sectioning via text and on SpeechWire. 

 

MEAL TICKETS & CONCESSIONS: TDB

 

PARENTS: We encourage parents and guardians to view their children. They may subscribe to their student via SpeechWire.

 

If you have any questions about Registration or the tournament, please feel free to contact me at christen@omahamarian.org

 

INFORMATION ON EVENTS: 

 

Extemporaneous:  Topics will cover foreign and domestic issues from the news since January 2025—thirty-minute prep time. One 4X6 note card is optional. TIME LIMIT: MAX 5 MINUTES. Open internet access.

 

Informative: A speech to inform or teach - visuals are acceptable. The script is optional. TIME LIMIT: MAX 8 MINUTES. If you have any Entertainment speakers, they may be entered here. 

 

Original Oratory: This must be an original work of the student to inspire, persuade, and/or convince — a limit of 150 quoted words. The script is optional. TIME LIMIT: MAX 8 MINUTES.

 

Impromptu:  Draw three topics, and speak on one. Five-minute prep time. TIME LIMIT: MAX 4 MINUTES.

 

Dramatic Interpretation:  A serious interpretation of an original cut from prose or a play. The script is optional. TIME LIMIT: MAX 8 MINUTES.

 

Humorous Interpretation:  A humorous interpretation of an original cut from prose or a play. The script is optional. TIME LIMIT: MAX 8 MINUTES.

 

Poetry:  A serious or humorous interpretation of one or more poems. If more than one poem is used, it must be based on a theme or a single author. The script is required. TIME LIMIT: MAX 8 MINUTES.

 

Duet Acting:  An original cutting from a humorous or serious play acted out by two individuals. Touching and use of a table and two chairs are allowed. The script is optional. TIME LIMIT: MAX 10 MINUTES. 

 

Declamation Speaking: A speech that the student did not write. It could be a graduation address, eulogy, political speech, etc. Should include introductory remarks. TIME LIMIT: MAX 8 MINUTES. 

 

Oral Interpretation of Drama - OID - This is a 3-5 person event that can be humorous or serious. Script required. TIME LIMIT: MAX 15 MINUTES.

 

Entry Fees

Individual Event entry: $8.00 per entry

Entries will only be accepted through Speechwire.com.

 

Judges

We request that all judges be competent and experienced.

One judge per every five Individual Event entries.

$25.00 for each uncovered judge.

 

Payment

Make checks payable to "Marian High School."

attn. Jen Christen; 7400 Military Ave; Omaha, NE  68134

 

Schedule:

3:30 - Registration 

3:45 - General Meeting (cafeteria); Extemp Draw for Round 1 (Library)

4:00 - Round 1 

5:00 - Extemp Draw for Round 2 (Library)

5:15 - Round 2 

6:00 - Extemp Draw for Round 3 (Library)

6:30 - Round 3 

**Dinner will be served after Round 3 in the Cafeteria; bring your meal ticket!

***Awards will begin ASAP in the East Gym