Class A forensics squads raring to go

With a slew of new competitors and new coaches, the Flathead Valley’s Class A speech and debate teams aren’t quite sure what to expect this season.

Whitefish and Columbia Falls have new head coaches, after longtime coaches Pat McLaughlin and Michael Christensen retired at the end of last season. Gary Carmichael has taken the helm in Whitefish and Tara Norick is the new head coach in Columbia Falls.

Carmichael has a long history in speech and debate. He was a member of Loyola Sacred Heart High School’s speech and debate team before the school became a Class B powerhouse. The Missoula school has won the Class B state speech and debate title for 27 straight years.

After graduating, Carmichael coached at Loyola and at Saco School on the Hi-Line and later at C.M. Russell High School in Great Falls.

He hasn’t coached since he began teaching in Whitefish in 1997 and said he was excited about getting back into speech and debate. He is also excited about his new assistant coach, Sara Mueller.

Whitefish is starting the season with a lot of new faces on the team this year, Carmichael said.

“It was a heavy senior class last year,” he said. “This year we’re starting with a group of dynamic newcomers. It will be fun helping them find their voice.”

There are a couple of strong returners. Jenni Vail, who finished fourth in serious oral interpretation at last year’s divisional meet, and Christa Konopatke, who took eighth in original oratory at the state tournament, are back. Whitefish finished third overall at the Class A state meet.

Carmichael said his goal is for the team to improve with every meet.

“It would be great to have as many qualify for state as possible,” he said.

“Speech and debate is such a great life skill. If we end up doing well at divisionals and state, that’s all the better, but if the students improve, I’m just happy, very, very happy.”

Columbia Falls begins the season with a record-breaking fifth straight state title behind it. But with three new coaches — including a new head coach — and several newcomers to the team, anything can happen this year, Norick said.

“It’s going to be just a growing year, rebuilding and growing,” she said. “It’s going to be interesting in our division, with so many new coaches.”

Technically Norick isn’t new; she was an assistant coach in Columbia Falls for five years. Last season she was named the state’s top Class A speech coach by the Montana Forensic Educators Association.

Joining her this year are assistants Kim Gange and Krista Martens.

While about half the team are new to speech and debate, Columbia Falls does have some experienced competitors.

“We have seniors and freshmen, and not much in between,” Norick said.

She listed Jesse Flickinger, who placed second and third in extemporaneous speaking and impromptu speaking, respectively, at state last year; Ariel Ramstad, who was part of the seventh-place policy debate team at state; and Stephanie Christensen, state champion in original oratory and third-place finisher in memorized public address, among her top returners.

“We have some strength and role models,” Norick said. “I think every year it’s a challenge. Every year you have a new group of kids. Every year it’s a new dynamic.”

Both teams begin their seasons Oct. 30 in Polson.

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com.