Schreiner places sixth in nation

There are times when a back-up plan works out better than the original plan.

That is what happened to incoming Comanche High School senior Jackson Schreiner at the 2024 National Speech and Debate Tournament held in Des Moines, Iowa from June 16-21.

Schreiner had qualified for nationals in the humorous interpretation category, but at the national tournament, contestants were also allowed to compete in another category of their choosing. Schreiner chose poetry and he struck gold.

He advanced round after round in poetry, competing against more than 500 other students from around the country, finally making it to the finals in the final day and came home with a sixth place finish.

“The whole thing was just a really big honor,” Schreiner said. “I know how hard it is to qualify to go to it, so just to be able to go was an honor. As I kept breaking through the rounds, I was just flying by the seat of my pants. It was just a blessing from God each round that I broke.”

Schreiner admitted competing against large schools from places such as New York, California and Texas was intimidating.

“But, I had my family there and they supported me,” Schreiner said. “They made me feel like I could do it and I did it.”

Schreiner read a poem which did not even qualify for state. He did a total revamp of his presentation and it struck a cord with the judges at nationals.

“I did a very traditional poem,” Schreiner said. “The other contestants’ poems had an agenda. My goal in the tournament was to get people to laugh and to give comedic relief like I do in humorous interpretation.”

The title of the poem was “The Geek Wants Out.”

“I have a coach that I’m related to and he’s been in this game for a long time, so I’m very fortunate for him to work with me throughout the year,” Schreiner said. “He gave me that poem. It didn’t even qualify for state. My luck has kind of been off all year.”

The work paid off, however.

“It was a whole remodel,” Schreiner said. “I was working on it every day after work and before work. It was brutal, but I’m glad I did it.”

He is not, though, going to just sit back and relax now that a goal has been met.

“My goal is to go back next year and go even further on that stage again,” Schreiner said. “I don’t want to be a one-hit wonder. I want to do what God put me on earth here to do.”