By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Mt. Edgecumbe High School is welcoming competitors from all over the state – through online means – for a drama, debate and forensics tournament Friday and Saturday.
Mt. Edgecumbe DDF coach Marcia Drake says many elements are different this time, with a combination of live and recorded performances and judges participating through videoconference platforms. But one aspect has remained the same: she needs volunteers to judge the events.
“We still need quite a few, but that’s the way it always goes,” she said.
By press time today 37 spaces were yet to be filled, with openings in multiple events.
Teams competing this weekend include Mt. Edgecumbe, Sitka, Ketchikan, Thunder Mountain, Skagway, Haines, Metlakatla and Whitestone. Mt. Edgecumbe is the host but all coaches help coordinate the virtual tournaments.
In DDF competition, usually regional, students prepare speeches, dramatic and humorous readings and performances, and debate issues, with judges drawn from the host community.
With the event now taking place online, Southeast schools have welcomed northern competitors, such as Whitestone (Delta Junction), which plans to be part of this weekend’s contest. Drake said the online format also has opened the door to judges from out of town.
“With the virtual tournament you could be in Taiwan and judge the tournament, if you have an internet connection,” Drake said. “That’s pretty cool.”
She said Sitka usually has a solid complement of judges to step in for the volunteer activity, and she expects to see the same by the time the tournament takes place.
“There’s a really strong DDF commitment in this town,” she said.
The first events are 8 a.m. Friday, and the tournament wraps up around 7 p.m. Saturday. Judges are asked to fill the two-hour time slots, but Drake said she believes most will finish earlier.
Drake said the kids on the Mt. Edgecumbe team and others are starting to focus more on pieces to enter in the state contest. But she added that practices have been challenging for her squad, who just emerged from quarantine this week after winter break.
“It’s been a weird year,” Drake said. “We’ve been working since they got out of quarantine, we’re doing the best we can, and they’ve done pretty well all year.”
Drake said she’s been grateful for the help from former Sitka High DDF members Owen Fulton and Chaya Pike, who now teach in Metlakatla and help with computer logistics.
No experience is needed for judging and judging tips are available on the link to signups.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a45a9a72fa3f94-mehs
Those with questions may call Drake at 738-0429.
