Six high school speakers qualify for nationals meet
The Daily Inter Lake
Six local students qualified for the 2008 National Speech Tournament at the National Forensic League district qualifier Feb. 8 and 9 in Bozeman.
Four students from Flathead High School and two from Glacier High will compete June 15 through 20 in Henderson, Nev. Flathead finished second to Bozeman High School in tournament sweepstakes results.
Flathead's Katie Hoag, the AA state champion in Extemporaneous Speaking, qualified in U.S. Extemporaneous for the second year in a row.
Bethany Denton, who took third in Serious Oral Interpretation at the state tournament, qualified in Dramatic Interpretation.
Kyle Suvak and Chresten Knaff qualified in Policy Debate.
"We are so proud of these students," Flathead head coach Kala Lougheed said. "It was a great way to wrap up the season.
"To have four students qualify for the national tournament is a huge testament to the success of our program, the quality of the students we have and the amazing work of our coaches."
Megan Leininger and Dylan Rodwick, who qualified in Duo Interpretation, will represent Glacier at the tournament.
"I am really proud of Megan and Dylan," Glacier head coach Greg Adkins said. "They had a super season, and I am so proud of their ability to bounce back after a disappointing state AA tournament two weeks ago."
Thirteen local students were selected as alternates:
First alternate: Annika Heinle and Ian Twamley, Flathead (Public Forum Debate); Cailin Rogers, Flathead (Lincoln-Douglas Debate)
Second alternate: McKenzie Javorka, Flathead (Original Oratory); Cody Harrison, Flathead (Humorous Interpretation); Justine Klein, Glacier (Student Congress)
Third alternate: Victoria Zimmer and Brigitte Baake, Flathead (Policy Debate); Matt Schwager, Glacier (U.S. Extemporaneous); Patrick Ingham, Columbia Falls (International Extemporaneous); Tiffany Gross, Columbia Falls (Lincoln-Douglas Debate); Quinn Maroney, Glacier (Student Congress); Mary Snipstead, Glacier (Student Congress).