{"id":5908,"date":"2019-06-18T16:21:21","date_gmt":"2019-06-18T21:21:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mpisd.net\/mphs\/?p=5908"},"modified":"2019-06-18T16:21:21","modified_gmt":"2019-06-18T21:21:21","slug":"mphs-freshman-claims-state-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mpisd.net\/mphs\/mphs-freshman-claims-state-championship\/","title":{"rendered":"MPHS Freshman Claims State Championship"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The end of May was a series of firsts for the Mount Pleasant High School Speech and Debate team\u2026the first time to qualify for state in speech events, the first time to medal in those events, and the first time to claim a state championship. Team members Ja\u2019Quacy Minter and Connelly Cowan travelled to Austin on May 28th to compete in the State Speech Meet on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin.\u00a0 In the end, Cowan, a freshman, was named the 5A State Champion in Informative Extemporaneous Speaking while Minter, a graduate just four days prior, earned a 6th place medal in Poetry Interpretation.<\/p>\n

Minter and Cowan had to advance out of both District and Regionals to earn their spots at the state meet.\u00a0 Minter was named the District Champion for the second consecutive year and then went on to claim the Regional Championship.\u00a0 Cowan placed 3rd at both the District and Regional meets.\u00a0 In both events, only twelve competitors in 5A across the state make it to Austin, an amazing accomplishment all by itself.<\/p>\n

From the UIL Prose and Poetry Handbook, \u201cThe earliest interpretation event, \u2018declamation,\u2019 began in 1911 as the second oldest contest sponsored by UIL. It consisted of delivering published orations which promoted good citizenship, involved a story or event about the \u2018making of America,\u2019 or commemorated Texas heroes, history, and progress. These orations were delivered from memory. Not until 1950 was poetry a separate event in the UIL program, and not until 1959 was a manuscript required during the presentation. In 1961, declamation became prose interpretation, and for the first time, a list of five poets and five writers was prescribed by the League office.<\/p>\n

Minter performed People You May Know from Category B, \u201cTaking a Stand\u201d in prelims and placed 3rd in his room to advance to the finals on day 2.\u00a0 In the final round he performed What\u2019s Genocide from Category A, \u201cExamining Our Changing World\u201d to earn his 6th place state ranking.<\/p>\n

\u201cState was an amazing experience,\u201d said Minter.\u00a0 \u201cAfter months of fighting to get to that one moment, it was exactly the experience I was dreaming of.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Informative Extemporaneous Speaking, contestants draw five topics, select one, and have thirty minutes to prepare an informative speech on the chosen topic. Topics are based on current news events and include state, national and international levels chosen from the general areas of political, social, economic, educational and cultural interests. The time limit for the oral speech is seven minutes maximum. Cowan spoke on the topic \u201cWhat has the Texas legislature accomplished during its current session?\u201d in round one and placed 2nd in her room to advance to day 2.\u00a0 In finals, she spoke on \u201cWhat steps are health officials taking to halt the spread of measles in the United States?\u201d to claim the 5A state championship.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing to state in extemp was just recently a dream of mine,\u201d said Cowan.\u00a0 \u201cI never really liked extemp until this past January when my coach began pushing me to reach my full potential. I then began working hard and giving tons of practice speeches in hopes of making it to the state meet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cowan continued, \u201cWinning state was a complete shock. I was just happy to be there! It showed me that there is no limit to what I can do when I decide to work for it.\u00a0 I will always be grateful to Coach Morris for instilling confidence in me and practicing relentlessly with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Minter and Cowan, along with teammates Taryn Thurman and Reid Pinckard, will wrap up the year at the NSDA National Tournament in Dallas starting on June 16th.\u00a0 They are coached by Cody Morris.<\/p>\n

Photos:<\/p>\n