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We hope you join us for our annual Walk the Plank Invitational for fun and friendly competition in all academic and speech events on
Saturday, November 1, 2025.
This tournament is a learning tournament, and a TFA qualifying tournament. We will continue to provide feedback from state judges in subjective events. Novice coaches are encouraged to join in the judging room and learn from experienced judges and contest directors. Our goal for this tournament remains to support new competitors and coaches in gaining confidence in UIL events while at the same time offering strong competition that sharpens the skilled competitor. Pine Tree competitors may compete in this tournament and will be eligible to compete in elimination rounds.
Test vendors include
Hexco -- Accounting, CIE, Social Studies
Pocket Coach Academy -- Journalism, Literary Criticism, Ready Writing
APlus Computer Science (written & programming)
TMSCA Tests #3 -- Math, Number Sense, Science, Calculator
ASW -- Spelling
Interp -- Student Selections
Extemp - Original Topics from host
LD -- We will use the UIL Fall 2025 resolution
CX -- 25-26 Resolution
Congress -- Regions 7 & 8 UIL Legislation - Specific items will be posted in early October.
Custom Sweepstakes and team plaques will be awarded for (1A - 4A) and (5A-6A). Team medals will be awarded for 1st and 2nd place teams. Individual medals will be awarded for 1st - 6th places. TMSCA 1st - 6th place grade level winners will receive medals for number sense, mathematics, calculator, and science. Divisions will be combined in all Speech/Debate events with medals for 1st - 6th place individuals and teams and Top Speaker plaques. Top Journalism and Speech/Debate teams will also receive plaques.
Please contact Terri Davis (tdavis@ptisd.org) for academic events and Melissa Witt (mwitt@ptisd.org) for speech and debate events.
Please bring a check or a purchase order. Checks can be made out to:
Pine Tree HS UIL Academics
c/o Lee Branson
PO BOX 5878
Longview, TX 75608
DEADLINES: We will need your full registration by 5pm, Wednesday, October 29 and judges by Friday, October 24. Please do not cross commit speech and debate judges. We understand that in smaller schools coaches must sponsor multiple events. Please do not register as a judge for any event if you are not able to grade the event/s.
Entry fees are as follows:
CX/PF Teams: $30
LD: $20
Speech Events & Congress: $10
Computer Science Hands-on: $20/team
All other events: $10
Click here for offered events.
Click here for offered events.
The following academic and speech events will be offered:
Ready Writing
All Journalism Events
Spelling
Literary Criticism
Debate - UIL LD, TFA LD, CX, PF, Congress
Informative & Persuasive Extemp, International & US Extemp
HI, DI, Duo, POI, Duet Acting, Original Oratory, Prepared Informative
Prose and Poetry - reader's choice
Current Issues & Events
Social Studies
Mathematics
Number Sense
Science
Calculator
Accounting
Computer Applications
Computer Science Written and Hands-on
Click here for information about ready writing and journalism.
Click here for information about ready writing and journalism.
We provide both computers and printers for all writing events and notebook paper for students who wish to handwrite. However, students are welcome to bring their own equipment.
Ready Writing entries will be capped at five (5) per school with additional students waitlisted. Every effort will be made to add waitlisted students to the contest during the week before the meet. Please email Terri Davis (tdavis@ptisd.org) with any special requests. We will use custom prompts.
Journalism entries will be capped at six (6) per school with additional students waitlisted. Every effort will be made to add waitlisted students to the contest during the week before the meet. Please email Terri Davis (tdavis@ptisd.org) with any special requests. Susan Duncan, retired coach of state winners, former state judge, and current district and region judge will serve as lead judge. Susan will provide written feedback to contestants based upon meet results. Pocket Coach Academy is writing the prompts.
Click here for spelling procedures.
Click here for spelling procedures.
The pronouncer will be Belinda Walinta. The test will be from ASW. Contest Director will be Martha Dalby.
Contact Terri Davis (tdavis@ptisd.org) if you have any questions.
Click here for speech and debate procedures.
Click here for speech and debate procedures.
For debate, you must have 1 judge for every 4 LD contestants/PF Teams or 2 CX teams, or part thereof. For Interp, Speech, Congress and Writing Events, you must provide 1 judge for every 6 participants or part thereof. We prefer judges over fees . AT MINIMUM, speech/debate team coaches MUST serve as judges.
CONGRESS: Tournament will be using the UIL Region Congress Legislation from ESC 7 and ESC 8. Specific legislation items and order will be published in early October.
CX DEBATE: Resolved: The United States federal government should significantly increase its exploration and/or development of the Arctic.
UIL LD DEBATE: Resolved: In the United States, compulsory national service ought to be valued over personal autonomy.
TFA LD DEBATE: Resolved: In the United States criminal justice system, plea bargaining is just.
PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE: NSDA November/December resolution
Missing judge fee is set at $150.
Contact Melissa Witt (mwitt@ptisd.org) if you have any questions.
Click here for computer science procedures.
Click here for computer science procedures.
Please bring power cords in addition to your computers. Both the written test and programming will take place Saturday. Contact Terri Davis (tdavis@ptisd.org) if you have any questions.
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