The Bearcat Speech Team performs in regional competition from November through March.  Most of our tournaments take place right here in central and eastern Nebraska, though we have been known to travel to neighboring states such as South Dakota and Wyoming.    

Students frequently choose to attend a summer camp to begin preparing competitive events.  Regular practices begin in mid-September.  Students arrange practice times in twenty to thirty-minute blocks, working individually with members of the coaching staff as well as peer mentors. Each student is required to practice before every tournament and dress in appropriate tournament attire.  This standard ranges from suits to dress slacks for either gender. 

There are approximately thirteen different events in which the students can participate.  These include events such as Humorous, Dramatic, and Poetry Interpretation, plus Duet Acting and Oral Interpretation of Drama. In addition, six platform events are available:  Oratory, Informative, Entertainment, Extemporaneous, Declamation, and Impromptu Speaking.

Kearney High has a local National Forensic League chapter, which students may choose to join after earning a requisite number of points in competition.  NFL membership is an honor and a privilege, which enhances any student's high school transcript. 

Kearney High School has had three state champions in Oral Interpretation of Drama and Extemporaneous Speaking, as well as runners-up in Poetry and Oratory.

Students who are interested in KHS Speech should contact head coach Mary Alice Konz by e-mailing maryalice.konz@kearneypublic.org .