Whitefish speech team wins state

It wasn't even close.

Whitefish won the state speech championship Saturday with 104 points to its next competitor's, Billings Central's 58. The tournament was held in Corvallis.

"I just can't believe how strongly" they won, said head coach Beth Beaulieu.

Whitefish has a state champion debate team in Chausea Jacobson and Erica Calys. Porsche Erekson is also a state champ with her win in original oratory.

Others who contributed to Whitefish's win were Mo Muri, second place, impromptu; Kelly Gemignani, second place, serious oral interpretation; Matt Gwiazdon, fourth place, Lincoln-Douglas debate; Taylor Beach and Jessie Kuennen, third place, policy debate; Jacob Fern, eighth place, extemporaneous; LeAnn Books, eighth place, original oratory.

Whitefish Fire Department Chief Dave Sipe said the win entitles the students to a ride on a fire truck this week.

Michael Christensen, head coach of the Columbia Falls team, was thrilled to see his counterparts in the Whitefish win.

"I think Whitefish did an outstanding job," he said.

Columbia Falls placed third, meeting its goal of placing in the top five at state with what Christensen calls a young team this year.

His winners include Lindie Burgess, second, and Cassie Hollopeter, fifth, memorized public address; Sydney Jordt, third, and Natalie Jackson, fifth, humorous oral interpretation; Brittany Calderwood, fourth, serious oral interpretation; Tashia Shupert, ninth, original oratory; Nellie Lutz and Jacob Eubank, 10th, policy debate; Heather Jurva, semifinals, humorous oral interpretation.

Next year, Columbia Falls hosts the State Class A tournament.

No information was available Saturday night on Kalispell's participation in the Class AA tournament in Helena. Flathead has won the last three Class AA titles and has a Class AA-record 16 championships.