Flathead speech shoots for seventh state title
Tournament begins Friday in Butte
The Daily Inter Lake
Flathead High speakers and debaters are headed to Butte this weekend, determined to make it seven out of eight.
Since 1999, the Braves have won the Class AA state speech championship every year except 2002, when they placed second.
They take aim at the state tournament Friday and Saturday with only one loss this season, a second-place finish to Bozeman. They notched wins at Missoula, Helena, Carroll College, Billings and their own invitational in Kalispell.
If the school's 17 state titles since 1916 are evidence, this year's competitors and coaches will know how to pull off another win.
"I guess one of the common misconceptions about this activity is that it is not competitive," head coach Greg Adkins said, but "we don't just get together to have fun."
Each of the 13 Class AA schools is allowed to bring 42 entries in 11 events (some students enter more than one event), with no more than four entries in any one event.
Flathead's coaching team starts with more than 200 students and pares back to those who have the most potential for helping win the state title.
"This activity has an MHSA-approved scoring system very similar to track and field," Adkins said. "Just getting a seat on a varsity trip is a big accomplishment in our program. To be selected on the state team is a big deal. These kids are the best and brightest."
Adkins said he isn't taking anything for granted.
"Bozeman has a tremendous program. They proved in December that they can beat us," the coach said. "You never know exactly what to expect. This season we expected to experience some growing pains because we lost both of our varsity debate coaches, and yet we have kept winning.
"I feel good about this team and our chances this weekend."
Bozeman, Billings Skyview, Helena, Butte and Missoula Sentinel also will be in the hunt for the three top team trophies, Adkins said.
State preview
Here is a preview of Flathead's top entrants in individual events:
-Short-preparation events (Impromptu and Extemporaneous speaking)
It's been Flathead's strength the past decade. Senior Dan Bothwell and junior Treza Hirsch, both 2005 national qualifiers, are candidates for a state title in both events. Bothwell was first in Extemporaneous at Helena, Missoula, Bozeman and Billings, and in Impromptu at Flathead. Hirsch was first in Extemporaneous and Impromptu at Carroll College. Lisa Musz, a senior, was first in Impromptu at Helena.
Other Flathead contenders are Josh Henning and Neil Hilton.
-Memorized events (Expository, Memorized Public Address and Original Oratory)
Petie Booth, a 2005 national qualifier and the only four-year varsity member, will compete in Original Oratory and Memorized Public Address. She was first at Flathead and Billings in Original Oratory. Her toughest Original Oratory competition may come from her own teammates, seniors Amanda Barker and Diana Brosten. Barker was first in Missoula and Brosten was first in Helena.
In Expository, senior Kelsi Steele won at Helena and Missoula and junior Katie Seidel won at Carroll College.
Vera Jones leads an all-senior Memorized Public Address squad. Jones won at Helena and Flathead, but she'll be challenged for the state title by Booth, Musz and Riata Booky. Booky is coming off her season-best second-place finish two weeks ago in Billings.
Other Flathead contenders include Vanessa Maycumber, Katie Siedel, Hanna Hanes and Evan Fricke
-Interpretive events (Humorous Interpretation, Serious Interpretation, Duo Interpretation)
Ben Clanton, the 2005 State AA Serious Interpretation champion, is in the running for another state title. So are teammates Mara Mercer and Josh Kelly, both juniors.
Senior Laramy Applekamp won Humorous Interpretation at Missoula and Flathead.
Flathead's Duo Interpretation teams - Evan Scott and Emmalee McLellan, Alex Cox and Madison Monroe, Sarah Hinkle and Tabitha Spencer, Ken Grinde and Jesse Brenneman - are in the mix.
Other Flathead contenders: Anders Lundgren, Brice Lubitz.
-Debate Events (Legislative Debate, Lincoln Douglas Debate, Policy Debate)
With a Flathead win in every tournament this season, the squad has dominated Legislative Debate. The state champion could emerge from any of the four on the squad - Julian Malinak, Jarrett Twamley, Mikenna Maroney and Eric Fulton, all seniors.
Michael Schwager, a 2005 national qualifier, hopes for a Lincoln-Douglas Debate title.
Other Flathead debate standouts include Chase Decker, Kory Johnson, Sara Ebert and Nicole Allen.