06/20/2026
For the last week, Sandite Speech & Debate has been competing at the NSDA National Tournament in Richmond, Virginia!
Representing the East Oklahoma NSDA District:
- Five CPHS students competed as part of the East OK GOLD World Schools Debate team: Evan Brown, Gavin McClaran, Olivia Riddle, Paula Gutierrez, and Ashton Shea
- Archer Hargett was selected to represent the East OK BLUE World Schools Debate district team, competing alongside students from schools across Oklahoma.
- Shiv Fowler competed in Poetry.
Against nearly 200 of the top World Schools Debate teams from across the United States (and a few international competitors), both Oklahoma teams finished the preliminary rounds with an impressive 3–3 record, putting them just one win away from advancing to elimination rounds! Our poetry competitor also advanced to an elimination round, placing them among the top performers at the competition. Regardless of the outcome, this was an incredible achievement and the first trip to National’s for CPHS in many years!
We couldn’t be more proud of these students for representing Sand Springs and Oklahoma. The experiences competition from this week were invaluable, and each student is already making plans for how they’ll qualify and come back even stronger next year.
Outside of competition, we had the chance to visit the Atlantic Ocean in Virginia Beach, pay our respects at Arlington National Cemetery, and explore the National Mall (and no, Ashton, there is not a Cheesecake Factory).
Thank you to everyone who supported our students and helped make this trip possible through direct donations, sharing our fundraising efforts, helping with logistics, and simply cheering our students on.
Until NEXT YEAR!
— Moses
