The Official Website of the Marlow Outlaw Speech Team 1982-2025
Since its beginning in 1982, the Marlow High School Department of Speech & Drama achieved many major goals.
In 1987, the team won the first of what would become a continuing string of regional championships. Further success followed over the next two years (1988 and 1989) with back-to-back Class 2A State Championships. The team later returned as State Champions in 2002 and 2003, again in 2009 and 2011 (now under the 4A classification), and most recently with back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019.
The Marlow team consistently ranks among the top at the state level and takes pride in its reputation as a first-class competitive program. On this site, you will find a comprehensive list of the team’s regional and state medalists, along with information and memories of past team members.
In addition to the competitive team, they performed stage productions yearly. We hope that each student involved in the productions achieved a sense of pride with the finished work and that those students (and, indeed, everyone in the audience) acquired a lifelong appreciation for the talent and hard work involved in theater arts.
The Marlow High School Department of Speech & Drama is proud to have inspired many students to pursue careers in the arts, whether as educators or performers.
The philosophy of MOST: “Ten years from now, the medals we’ve won will tarnish, but the memories, stories, and friendships will shine brightly forever.”
The Coach
Paula McConnell was a teacher at Marlow High School from August 1982 until retirement May 2025. Before teaching for 43 years, Paula graduated from Cordell High School as class valedictorian. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education (summa cum laude) from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. While at Southwestern she was named Outstanding Freshman Female, Outstanding Sophomore Female, Outstanding Mathematics Student, and won the Teddy Award for Outstanding Supporting Female Actress. There she served her senior year as vice-president of Alpha Psi Omega. She was a member of the National Education Association, the Oklahoma Education Association, and the Marlow ACT.
“Paula was the 2000 Marlow Public Schools Teacher of the Year. She was the director of the annual Marlow Invitational Speech/Debate Tournament for 34 years, as well as being the Class 4A West representative for the O.S.S.A.A. State Speech Committee from August 2004 - May 2025 (21 years) and the Southwest Regional Speech Tournament. She took the role of Regional Tournament Director in 2024 and 2025. Under her direction, the MHS Speech team earned 27 Regional and 8 State Championships, as well as 16 consecutive Academic Awards from 1995-2011, plus 2014 and 2015, along with an academic runner-up status in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2023. Paula also served as the Individual Events Division coordinator at the Cameron University Speech/Debate/Broadcast Camp in Lawton through July 2013. She earned the NFHS Outstanding Speech Educator Award in 2006 and also in 2025. Her favorite non-school topic is her daughter Kasey. Her favorite movies are anything Avengers. Her favorite vacation spot is Walt Disney World.”
