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Fifth Annual Fred Snook Memorial Tournament; December 19, 2026 at Kenston High School and Middle School.

We will hold four rounds of all OSDA high school and middle school events, except for three rounds of policy debate. Speech double entries are permitted (except for extemp). Registration will be held from 7:45-8:15am. Extemp prep and policy debate will begin promptly at 8:30am. Awards typically start by 2:30. Awards will be given to the top six in each event plus the top novices in each event who are not in the top six. Sweepstakes awards will be given too. Middle schoolers will be given awards equivalent to the high schoolers. Congress results will be based on judge's preference via combined chambers.

Please register those in their first year of high school competition as novices so we can determine the novice awards. Please remember that your middle school entries need to be entered via your middle school team SpeechWire account.

LD and High School PF will use the Nov/Dec NSDA topics. Middle School PF will use the Ohio middle school November/December topic. No novice topics are being used. High School Congress will use the Dec. 19 OSDA docket. Middle School Congress legislation will be announced approximately two weeks before the tournament.

Entry fees are $6 per student for each event in which they are entered plus a $10 per school Speechwire fee. If this is the first year your school has competed, entry fees are waived (just let us know). Cut-off for drops is Thursday, December 17 at 9pm. You are responsible for paying the entry fee for any drops after this deadline. Please make checks payable to Kenston Local School District. The W-9 is posted under files to download.

Judge requirements: one judge for every 1-5 speech entries, 1-8 congress entries, and 1-2 for each type of debate entry. A limited number of judges (except for policy debate) are available for hire via the uncovered judge fees on SpeechWire. Please enter email addresses for your judges and remind them to bring an electronic device because we will be using electronic ballots. If any high schoolers are judging middle schoolers, please state "STUDENT" in the judge comments and block them from the high school events.

We will let you know in advance which events are being held at which school. Your buses will be responsible for dropping your kids off at each school and transporting them to Kenston High School at the end of the day for awards, although the schools are within walking distance.

A variety of lunch options will be offered to students at both locations. Please bring small bills. Please do not bring your own food unless your student has special dietary needs because this tournament is our major fundraiser.

The Kenston tournament has been renamed in memory of Fred Snook, who passed away in July 2022. Fred coached at Crestwood and Kenston for 45 years and is a member of the Hall of Fame of the Ohio Speech and Debate Association. Fred inspired, encouraged and motivated students, coaches and judges in the Cleveland District and throughout Ohio. He is sorely missed. The Kenston Foundation is awarding an annual $1,000 scholarship to a Kenston Senior. Donations can be made by sending checks to the Kenston Foundation, 8584 E. Washington St., Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 and note "Fred Snook Scholarship" in the memo line. Coaches, please feel free to wear suspenders in memory of Fred.