Welcome to Walk the Plank Invitational 2026!

Walk the Plank website Please see our website for complete information about judging, payments, and maps.
LOCATION: Pine Tree High School, 900 Northwest Dr., Longview, TX 75604

EVENTS: ALL UIL academic and speech & debate events including computer programming

ENTRIES: Entries are capped for writing events, but we will begin accepting waitlisted students on October 30. Drops after Monday, Nov. 2nd will lose the entry fee. Please communicate drops in a timely manner. You can email or text Terri Davis at tdavis@ptisd.org or (903) 238 - 5467. Please TEXT all drops the morning of Nov. 7th to (903) 238 - 5467 as early as possible.

If you have substitutions, please send those as soon as possible as well so we can update rosters. This will expedite testing. Our tournament has seen large numbers of entries in all events in recent years, and we run on schedule. Communicating substitutions and drops as soon as possible make this possible.

CROSS-ENTERING: Students may enter one debate event. We are unable to hold rounds for students who enter multiple speaking events. If students are not present when a round begins, they will forfeit the round. We will not hold rounds for students. Please make sure your students know their room locations ahead of time. Our academic events run on time in order to ensure students who cross-enter are able to compete. Coaches, if you are judging, please make sure you are present on time.

AWARDS: We like for students and coaches to leave at the end of the day feeling rewarded AND challenged. Awards for EACH division are as follows:
SWEEPSTAKES for (1A-3A) and (4A-6A), 1st - 3rd place
TEAM EVENTS: 1st and 2nd place team medals for 4 competitors; 1st place team receives a custom leather plaque
INDIVIDUALS: 1st - 6th place
TMSCA EVENTS: 1st - 6th place for each grade level
SPECIAL WRITING AWARDS: "Paper of the Day" for journalism and "Novice Recognition" for Ready Writing
JOURNALISM & SPEECH/DEBATE TEAMS: 1st and 2nd place teams for each one

ProPo: Student's Choice

CONGRESS: Region 7 Docket (P2, P4, F7, F10) OR Region 8 Docket (R8-4, R8-5, R8-6, R8-7)

LD & CX: Current UIL resolutions

EXTEMP: Custom

What makes our tournament special? In addition to offering strong competition with a good number of competitors, we also offer a schedule that allows students to compete in both academic and speech and debate events early in the year. Our contest proctors are well-acquainted with the UIL rules for their respective contests. We hire skilled judges for Ready Writing and journalism events who offer invaluable feedback. We staff our events so that coaches are able to be with their teams. Our facilities are accommodating, and our parents make sure our hospitality is second to none. We also have live updates through a custom website for this tournament so you can access results from anywhere as soon as they are posted. If you are new to UIL, please reach out to us. We want ALL students to have the opportunity to compete!

PAST VERSION OF THIS TOURNAMENT INCLUDING COMPETING SCHOOLS: 2025 2024 2023

JUDGES AND GRADERS:

WRITING EVENTS: We hire graders for Ready Writing and a lead judge for journalism events. We ask that journalism coaches grade. If you are unable to grade journalism, please do not give your name as a judge. Email Terri if you need help with this.

ACADEMIC EVENTS: Coaches need to judge their respective events. If you enter students to test, please provide a grader. If you do not provide a grader, we cannot guarantee your students' papers will be graded.

SPEECH AND DEBATE EVENTS: If you need to judge multiple SD events, email Terri. All judges must be entered by Monday, Nov. 2 or your school will incur a missing judges' fee.

LD DEBATE JUDGES: 1 per 4 entries or part thereof
CX DEBATE: 1 per 2 entries or part thereof
CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE: 1 per 6 entries or part thereof
IEs: 1 per 6 entries or part thereof