Columbia Falls, Glacier repeat as speech champs
Columbia Falls High School drove home champions Saturday, with a seventh consecutive first place win in the Class A State Tournament. The team finished with an overall 140 team sweepstakes points, far ahead second place winner Billings Central High School with 90 points.
Separately, Glacier High School claimed its second straight Class AA state speech championship.
“The kids did a fantastic job for being such a young team,” said head coach Tara Norick. “They really pulled together, supported each other, I couldn’t have been any more proud. The competition was tough and it wasn’t until we got down to the very end when the results came in.”
Six seniors will graduate from the team this year and Norick is looking to have a strong returning team for next season.
Policy Debate
Fifth — Erick Franklund and Colter Norick
Sixth - Mary Gross and Allison Foust
Lincoln Douglas Debate
Third — Becky Griffith
Fifth — Kaitlin Barnes
Memorized Public Address
First — Blake Ladenburg
Original Oratory
Second — Natalie Law
Seventh — Meredith Stolte
Impromptu
Fourth — Jinise Osborne
Fifth — Chance Morine
Seventh — Mason Gedlaman
Extemporaneous
Seventh — Kevin Shea
Humorous Oral Interpretation
First — Mason Gedlaman
Second — Caylub Moon
Fifth — Lexi Brunz
Serious Oral Interpretation
Fifth — Jinise Osborne
Seventh — Britney Cotton
Expository Speaking
Second — Casey Bauer
Fifth — Baylee Brinton
In Class AA, Glacier High School claimed first place at the AA State Speech and Debate Tournament held Friday and Saturday with 145 overall team sweepstakes points and six state champions. Flathead High School was not far behind placing third with 115.5 overall team sweepstakes points after Bozeman High School.
Glacier head coach Greg Adkins was very proud of how the team had a strong performance Friday and then rallied through a tough Saturday competition.
“We won,” said Greg Adkins Glacier head coach. “It was an amazing tournament. Probably the most amazing comeback I’ve been a part of. We did really well Friday night an then Saturday we hit a wall. It looked like we were in big time trouble and our kids just came through. They knew we were behind and they just battled back.”
Flathead High School head coach Karen Downes said it was one of the most exciting finishes at a state competition. Flathead High School came home with two state champions.
“It was really close right up to the end. Everyone was really engage it was a lot fun.” Downes said. “We were pleased. We worked very hard this season.”
Both teams will be competing in an upcoming district tournament to qualify for nationals.
AA Speech Team Sweepstakes
First — Glacier High School, 145 points
Second — Bozeman High School, 126 points
Third — Flathead High School, 115.5 points
Expository Speaking
First — Louise Wingqvist, Glacier High School
Second — Angela Merrill, Glacier High School
Fourth — Emma Lawrence-Yee, Flathead High School
Original Oratory
Third — Emma Lawrence-Yee, Flathead High School
Fourth — Danielle Bowen, Flathead High School
Eighth — Carli Dewbre, Glacier High School
Memorized Public Address
Third — Harrison Kauffman, Glacier High School
Fifth — Harrison Kauffman, Flathead High School
Sixth — Brianna Larson, Glacier High School
Seventh — Chloe Newlon, Flathead High School
Serious Interpretation
First — Tanner Maroney, Glacier High School
Second — Natalie Griffin, Flathead High School
Third — Bri Boozell, Flathead High School
Humorous Interpretation
Second — Tanner Maroney, Glacier High School
Eighth — Danny Power, Flathead High School
Duo Interpretation
First — Brittnie Dull and Keckeley Habel, Glacier High School
Third — Natalie Griffin and Danny Power, Flathead High School
Impromptu
First — Elena Musz, Flathead High School
Extemporaneous Speaking
Third — Elena Musz, Flathead High School
Legislative Debate
First — Jeremy Zugg, Flathead High School
Second — Scott Spring, Flathead High School
Third — Andora Tutvedt, Glacier High School
Fourth — Barrie Sugarman, Flathead High School
Seventh — Serena Brosten, Flathead High School
Public Forum
Fourth — Izaak Castren and Ian Hollander, Glacier High School
Lincoln Douglas Debate
Second — Elliot VanAllen, Glacier High School
Fifth — Lukas Dregne, Glacier High School
Policy Debate
First — Ashton Drake and Levi Proctor, Glacier High School
Third — Katie Anderson and Elle Lapp, Flathead High School