INVITATION

Dear Coach:

You and your squads are cordially invited to the David “Mr. Bill” Williams Forensics Invitational at Newton High School, 900 W. 12th St., Newton, KS 67114, on January 30 and January 31, 2026.

This tournament honors the coaching legacy of David “Mr. Bill” Williams, who coached debate and forensics for more than three decades in Kansas, including 24 years at Newton High School. David is a six-diamond National Speech and Debate Association coach and a member of the 2024 Hall of Fame Class for the Kansas Speech Communication Association. David was a longtime West Kansas NSDA Committee member and a dedicated coach who created a space for countless students to grow, thrive and achieve, resulting in numerous individual and team accolades through the course of Mr. Bill’s dedicated service to the activity.

Fees are $5 per entry, excluding DUO, DUET and IDA, which are $10 per entry. KSHSAA rules are in effect except for those events not recognized by the State Association. The Congress packet will be made up of two pieces of legislation per participating school.

We require you to bring a judge if you have 12 or more entries. It is my goal to get enough community judges so that we won't use the school ones, but we need the school ones as a backup.

The following events will be offered:

Friday, January 31: Congressional Debate

Saturday, February 1: US Extemporaneous Speech, International Extemporaneous Speech, Impromptu Speech, Informative Speech (7 min), Informative Speech (10 min with visual aid), Original Oratory, Program of Oral Interpretation, Oral Interpretation of Prose, Oral Interpretation of Poetry, Improvised Duet Acting, Duo Interpretation, Duet Acting, Humorous Interpretation, and Dramatic Interpretation. Depending on entries, DUET/DUO and Info 7/10 may be combined.

A meal deal will be available both days, with details to come. Each school is limited to 16 entries and must bring at least one judge per 12 entries.

Contact:

Jacob Unruh

620-664-0331 or jacob.unruh@usd373.org

SCHEDULE

Friday, January 30:

Registration: 3:30 PM

Round/Session 1: 4:00 PM

Round/Session 2: 5:35 PM

Grab and Go Friday Awards: 7:15 PM

Saturday, January 31:

Registration: 7:15 AM

1st Draw USX/IX/IDA: 7:45 AM

Round 1: 8:00 AM

Round 2: 9:30 AM (first draw 9:15 AM)

Round 3: 11:00 AM (first draw 10:45 AM)

Lunch: 12:30-1:00 PM

Finals: 1:00 PM (first draw 12:45 PM)

Awards: 2:45 PM or ASAP