Glacier, Flathead go 1-2 in AA speech
<p>Jessica Mount and her Glacier High School teammates react as Glacier is announced as the state champion at the State AA Speech and Debate Tournament Saturday night in Kalispell. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Ethan Hall of Flathead High School stands up to receive his medal for taking first place Saturday in Humorous Oral Interpretation at the State AA Speech and Debate Tournament in Kalispell. In the background are teammates Wyatt Dykhuizen, who placed second, and Sydney Boveng, who was third for an all-Flathead top three.</p><p></p>
This wasn’t a time for words and speeches, but cheering.
Even before the State AA Speech and Debate champion could be announced Saturday night, Glacier High School team members were on their feet screaming at the realization they would be crowned as champs.
When their title was announced under the din of cheers, the Glacier Wolfpack bounded to the stage and surrounded the team trophy being held up in the air.
On their home territory, they had just won their fourth consecutive state title.
After two days, five rounds, semifinals and finals, Glacier stood alone atop Class AA with 158.5 sweepstakes points
Flathead High School was second with 114.5 points, giving Kalispell a one-two sweep.
Bozeman — which dominated meets throughout the regular season — finished in third with 95 points.
Between hugs from students, Glacier head coach Greg Adkins said he was very proud of his team.
“We really peaked just at the right time for sure,” Adkins said. “Around noon today I felt we really in a good position.”
After taking a picture outside of the school and chanting “Wolfpack,” Memorized Public Address state champion Harrison Kauffman talked about the team win.
“It feels great to be a champion, but it feels greater to win as a team,” Kauffman said. “The season was tough, but I think we had a lot of faith in each other. Today, we rose to the occasion.”
Kauffman said the words of encouragement he gave to his teammates before the tournament encapsulate the spirit he felt going into state.
“We are 42 people competing for each other and it’s a rare and beautiful thing that only our team can understand,” Kauffman said.
Glacier was led not only by Kauffman but also individual state champions Jessica Mount in Serious Oral Interpretation and Hannah Halbur in Original Oratory.
Flathead swept the top three places in Humorous Oral Interpretation, led by state champion Ethan Hall. Sarah Ward in Impromptu also contributed an individual state title for Flathead.
Finalists for the Anne Sullivan AA Coach of the Year Award were also announced during the awards ceremony.
Glacier coach Josh Munro was named as a finalist in debate. In speech, Flathead head coach Shannon O’Donnell and Glacier head coach Greg Adkins were named as finalists.
Coaches will be recognized at the Montana Forensic Educators Association Spring Conference in Bozeman.
Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.