Katy Taylor Middle School Invitational
2025 — Katy, TX/US
James E. (Katy) Taylor High School
20700 Kingsland Blvd.
Katy, Texas 77450
is proud to return as host for our
Middle School Speech & Debate Tournament
Dear Colleagues,
We’re baaack! We are proudto once again host our Taylor Middle School tournament in person on the Taylor campus on January 18, 2025. We will be offering a variety of events in debate, public speaking, interpretation, and drama for both teams and individuals. We will also offer a junior division in many events for 6th and 7th graders with less experience.
Initial school entries are due by Friday, January 10. We have limited facilities, so it is important that you complete your entry as soon as possible. We cannot accept entries after our facilities are full. Drops after 6 p.m. on Wednesday, January 15, will result in loss of entry fees.
It is our goal each year to present you with a tournament that provides both a quality learning environment and administrative efficiency. We hope to see you at Taylor in January.
Sincerely,
Gay Hollis and
Greg McGee
Taylor Debate
QUESTIONS: You can reach the debate room at 281-237-3618 or Gay Hollis at 713-408-0970 (cell) after 6 p.m. You will be unable to contact me via cell during the day as there is ZERO cell reception in my classroom. My cell will send you to voicemail. Please leave a message and I will get back to you ASAP. Email is merryghollis@katyisd.org. Email is usually the most efficient means of communication.
FEES: Entry fees are $7 for each individual event entry and $15 for teams event entry. Lip Sync will be considered an individual event for the purpose of entry fees. Congress fees are $15 per entry, LD $20 and Public Forum $25 per team. Drops after January 15 will result in loss of entry fees.
DEADLINE: Schools should be entered on Tabroom no later than January 10. Early entry is encouraged as we cannot accept entries after our facilities are full.
Checks for entries fees should be made to:
Taylor High School Debate
Attn: Gay Hollis
James E. Taylor High School
20700 Kingsland Blvd.
Katy, Texas 77450
Credit card payments will be accepted via the Katy ISD Pay N Go system.
--the link to the payment system is
TOURNAMENT GUIDELINES
1. Contestants must be accompanied by a coach or an approved adult sponsor.
2. Contestants may enter up to 3 events per section. However, it is the student’s responsibility
to get to rounds. We will not hold up events in order to accommodate cross-entered students. Contestants may not enter both the junior and senior divisions of an event. Contestants may enter only 1 debate event. Debate contestants may not enter any Section B events.
3. There will be a 30-second grace period in all events except debate.
4. Students should remain in the commons when not competing.
5. Trophies will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in all events. Three sweepstakes places
will be awarded.
6. All food and drinks must be kept in the commons. Concessions will be provided for
students at a reasonable price for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.
7. Any defacing or damaging of school property will result in instant disqualification of that
student. The incident will be reported to the authorities and students may be subject to arrest.
8. Students may not enter contest rooms unless a judge is present. Failure to comply with
this rule may result in disqualification.
9. Judges will be Taylor High School debate and theatre students, National Honor Society
volunteers, parents, and community members. Students from area high schools with speech
and debate experience may also serve as judges.