The History of Oak Grove Forensics...
The Oak Grove Forensic Team was born in
1997. A young, first year teacher named
Suzanne Dubose, was hired to assist with the
award winning Oak Grove Drama
Department. A former college forensicator,
Miss Dubose chose a few students and took
them to their
1997. A young, first year teacher named
Suzanne Dubose, was hired to assist with the
award winning Oak Grove Drama
Department. A former college forensicator,
Miss Dubose chose a few students and took
them to their
first ever debate tournament. Things, however, were not
smooth sailing for the hopeful new team. At the
beginning of the 1997-1998 school year, Hogan Bramlett,
long-time devoted theatre teacher, passed away. Miss
Dubose, now Mrs. Allmon, took over the saddened
department and remains its director to this day.
Unfortunately, this left the Forensic Team without a
coach.
smooth sailing for the hopeful new team. At the
beginning of the 1997-1998 school year, Hogan Bramlett,
long-time devoted theatre teacher, passed away. Miss
Dubose, now Mrs. Allmon, took over the saddened
department and remains its director to this day.
Unfortunately, this left the Forensic Team without a
coach.
college. After spending a year student coaching at both Petal and Hattiesburg, Cole felt
he could return the team to its former glory. But after struggling to survive for two years, it
was an uphill battle. Weathers and Cole worked with 16 dedicated students, and slowly
the team began to rebuild. In 2004, at the Hub City Classic at Hattiesburg High School,
the Oak Grove team accomplished a goal never achieved during the Sumrall years. The
team won its first sweepstakes, defeating all other schools in attendance. The win helped
the momentum of the team, but once again a coaching change took affect. At the end of
the school year, Mrs. Stephanie Weathers left Oak Grove, leaving Cole to find a
replacement. He decided to call on an old friend. Stephanie Slay had taught speech and
debate at Hattiesburg for eight years. She was a mentor teacher to Cole during his final
year at USM. Thinking she might be interested, he made a phone call and the change
was made. With the new team of Cole and Slay in place, Oak Grove was primed to take a
new position, first place. During the next year, 2005-2006, the team remained undefeated
winning every in-state competition including the first ever Mississippi High School Activities
Association
he could return the team to its former glory. But after struggling to survive for two years, it
was an uphill battle. Weathers and Cole worked with 16 dedicated students, and slowly
the team began to rebuild. In 2004, at the Hub City Classic at Hattiesburg High School,
the Oak Grove team accomplished a goal never achieved during the Sumrall years. The
team won its first sweepstakes, defeating all other schools in attendance. The win helped
the momentum of the team, but once again a coaching change took affect. At the end of
the school year, Mrs. Stephanie Weathers left Oak Grove, leaving Cole to find a
replacement. He decided to call on an old friend. Stephanie Slay had taught speech and
debate at Hattiesburg for eight years. She was a mentor teacher to Cole during his final
year at USM. Thinking she might be interested, he made a phone call and the change
was made. With the new team of Cole and Slay in place, Oak Grove was primed to take a
new position, first place. During the next year, 2005-2006, the team remained undefeated
winning every in-state competition including the first ever Mississippi High School Activities
Association
Speech and Debate State Championship. In 2006-2007, the team repeated its state
championship win as well as breaking team records with 15 NCFL National
Competitors and 6 NFL National Qualifiers. In 2007-2008, in addition to hosting the
Annual Warrior Invitational, OG began hosting the Individual Event portion of the
Mississippi District NFL Qualifiers. 2008 ended again by shattering records. OG
scored its third team state championship, five individual state championships, 23
NCFL National Qualifiers, and 7 NFL National Qualifiers. Sadly, at the end of the
season, Mrs. Stephanie Slay announced she would be ending her time as co-coach
of the team. Beginning with the 2008-2009 season, Mr. Cole coached the team
alone for the first time in his career.
championship win as well as breaking team records with 15 NCFL National
Competitors and 6 NFL National Qualifiers. In 2007-2008, in addition to hosting the
Annual Warrior Invitational, OG began hosting the Individual Event portion of the
Mississippi District NFL Qualifiers. 2008 ended again by shattering records. OG
scored its third team state championship, five individual state championships, 23
NCFL National Qualifiers, and 7 NFL National Qualifiers. Sadly, at the end of the
season, Mrs. Stephanie Slay announced she would be ending her time as co-coach
of the team. Beginning with the 2008-2009 season, Mr. Cole coached the team
alone for the first time in his career.
The team spent 2008-2009 shattering records. In addition to winning their fourth,
state championship in a row, the team saw its first nationally ranked competitors,
first national circuit event finalists, first District Student of the Year, and had a
senior earn enough points to make her the most successful female in Mississippi
Forensics and tie second place for most points ever in the state's history. The
year ended with the team sending TEN students to NFL Nationals. Now, In
2009-2010, a new but determined team, has made it their goal to get back to the
top of the competition ladder. Only time will tell if they succeed, but if history tells
us anything, we know that when Oak Grove students set their mind to something,
they achieve it.
state championship in a row, the team saw its first nationally ranked competitors,
first national circuit event finalists, first District Student of the Year, and had a
senior earn enough points to make her the most successful female in Mississippi
Forensics and tie second place for most points ever in the state's history. The
year ended with the team sending TEN students to NFL Nationals. Now, In
2009-2010, a new but determined team, has made it their goal to get back to the
top of the competition ladder. Only time will tell if they succeed, but if history tells
us anything, we know that when Oak Grove students set their mind to something,
they achieve it.
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Luckily, another devoted teacher was found. Mrs. Christina
Sumrall joined the faculty and began the task of reviving the
team In, 1999, Oak Grove High School gained its charter with
Sumrall joined the faculty and began the task of reviving the
team In, 1999, Oak Grove High School gained its charter with
the National Forensic League and became a member of Mississippi Forensics. Under
the guidance of Mrs. Sumrall, the team flourished and saw the first signs of becoming a
powerful team. In 2001, Sumrall made the hard decision to leave Oak Grove and her
team in order to raise a family. The team members she left behind were determined to
maintain the legacy that she helped create. The next two years saw two different
coaches for Oak Grove. In 2001-2002, Carrie Kelly took the helm followed by
Stephanie Weathers in 2002-2003. It would be Weathers that would set off the chain
of events that changed the landscape and reputation of Oak Grove Forensics. Mrs.
Weathers approached the administration with the idea that, in order for the team to
succeed, a second coach would be needed. After several interviews, an Oak Grove
Alumnus and member of the OGHS Theatre Department was hired as the assistant
coach. Shane Cole, a 1997 graduate, returned to Oak Grove straight out of
the guidance of Mrs. Sumrall, the team flourished and saw the first signs of becoming a
powerful team. In 2001, Sumrall made the hard decision to leave Oak Grove and her
team in order to raise a family. The team members she left behind were determined to
maintain the legacy that she helped create. The next two years saw two different
coaches for Oak Grove. In 2001-2002, Carrie Kelly took the helm followed by
Stephanie Weathers in 2002-2003. It would be Weathers that would set off the chain
of events that changed the landscape and reputation of Oak Grove Forensics. Mrs.
Weathers approached the administration with the idea that, in order for the team to
succeed, a second coach would be needed. After several interviews, an Oak Grove
Alumnus and member of the OGHS Theatre Department was hired as the assistant
coach. Shane Cole, a 1997 graduate, returned to Oak Grove straight out of
