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
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, 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 fly solo for the first time in his
career as a coach.
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, 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 fly solo for the first time in his
career as a coach.
The 2008-2009 season promises to be the strongest team OGHS has ever had. It
will be a challenging year with all the new changes. But if they rise to meet those
challenges, it could just be the greatest year yet.
will be a challenging year with all the new changes. But if they rise to meet those
challenges, it could just be the greatest year yet.
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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
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
