Students: On your marks, get set, talk
Flathead speech tournament set for this weekend
The Daily Inter Lake
More than 1,000 high-school speakers, debaters and actors will flood into Kalispell this weekend for the annual Flathead High School speech invitational.
From this afternoon through Saturday, teams from Flathead High, nearby Elrod Elementary and Kalispell Junior High will set the stage for dozens of competitive speech, debate and drama events for students from across the state.
Teams from 29 schools are planning to participate, each with its contingent of coaches.
Flathead High head speech coach Greg Adkins and his coaching team have lined up nearly 850 hours of volunteer judging by community members.
Flathead traditionally has put in a powerhouse showing at its home meet, but it is bound to face some healthy competition this weekend.
The public is invited, Adkins said, especially to the speech and debate awards ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday in the Flathead High School auditorium.
Awards for the drama competitions will be presented at 5 p.m. in the Flathead High auditorium.
Competition is scheduled in the following four arenas:
-Policy and Lincoln Douglas Debate
Flathead High
Today
3:30 p.m. Round 1
5:30 p.m. Round 2
7:30 p.m. Round 3
Saturday
8 a.m. Round 4
10 a.m. Round 5
Noon Quarterfinals
2 p.m. Semifinals
4 p.m. Finals
-Legislative Debate
Flathead High
Today
3:30 p.m. Round 1
5:30 p.m. Round 2
7:30 p.m. Round 3
Saturday
8 a.m. Round 4
10 a.m. Round 5
Noon Semifinals
2 p.m. Finals
-Speech
Kalispell Junior High hosts Serious Oral Interpretation, Humorous Oral Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, Memorized Public Address and Original Oratory
Flathead High hosts Expository, Impromptu and Extemporaneous Speaking
Today
3:30 p.m. Round 1
5:30 p.m. Round 2
7:30 p.m. Round 3
Saturday
8 a.m. Round 4
10 a.m. Round 5
1 p.m. Semifinals
3:30 p.m. Finals
Speech and debate awards - 6 p.m. Flathead High auditorium
-Drama
Elrod Elementary School
Today
4 p.m. Round 1
6 p.m. Round 2
8 p.m. Round 3
Saturday
8:30 a.m. Round 4
10:30 a.m. Round 5
12:30 p.m. Semifinals
2:30 p.m. Finals
Drama awards - 5 p.m. Flathead High auditorium