Class AA Speech and Debate: Kalispell teams vie for state championship
<p><strong>Flathead High School</strong> junior Maija Hadwin won an individual state title in Original Oratory on Saturday in Missoula and Flathead won the team sweepstakes.</p>
<p>Becca Konen, left, and Abby Van Allen practice their performance of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” at Glacier High School on Tuesday. The two will compete in Duo Interpretation this weekend at the state Class AA meet in Missoula.</p>
<p>Ryker McIntyre practices his speech as Emma Trunkle and Jenna McCrorie look over their notes during a speech and debate practice at Glacier High School on Tuesday.</p>
<p><strong>On his way</strong> to a state championship, Flathead High School senior Eli Cornell contemplates the quote, “Debate is the end of conversation,” by Emil Ludwig as he practices Tuesday. Cornell won an individual state title in Impromptu Speaking and placed second in Extemporaneous Speaking on Saturday at the Class AA state meet.</p>
<p><strong>Wyatt Dykhuizen</strong>, left, and Parker Kouns, both juniors, practice their Duo Interpretation routine on Tuesday at Flathead High School. The pair won their event Saturday at the Class AA state meet and Flathead claimed the team championship.</p>
Will the Glacier High School speech and debate team talk its way into a fifth straight state championship or will Flathead High School have the final word and reclaim its title?
These are the top questions as the Class AA state speech and debate tournament commences Friday and Saturday at Sentinel High School in Missoula.
Glacier, Flathead and Bozeman are the top three contenders for the team title.
“Flathead and Glacier have been in the top three all year,” Flathead Head Coach Shannon O’Donnell said.
Glacier Head Coach Greg Adkins said the three schools have battled it out not just this season, but every year since Glacier High School opened in 2007.
“It has essentially been the three schools since then, but I don’t remember a season that it seems so close as it does now,” Adkins said,
Last weekend in Butte, Bozeman edged Glacier by 6.5 points and Flathead was just 2 points back, making it the closest tournament finish in years.
“Bozeman probably had the upper hand because of their dominance in the debate events, but Flathead is really strong in the several events, and we are coming on strong, so who knows?” Adkins said. “I love our efforts as team, so we just have to make sure we are healthy and ready next weekend.”
O’Donnell added, “It’s anyone’s game this week. The littlest things can make such a difference.”
O’Donnell said Flathead is going into state with a positive, upbeat attitude. This season marks 100 years since Flathead won its first state championship and O’Donnell didn’t deny that it adds fuel to the fire to win.
“We feel we have a shot at it; they’ve been working hard,” O’Donnell said.
There are numerous standout competitors to watch from both Flathead and Glacier.
Glacier competitors to watch include seniors Noah Hill and Ruben Castren, who were named top debaters in Public Forum at the Conway Classic tournament at Gonzaga University in Spokane earlier this month. If they win, it will help cut into Bozeman’s advantage in debate, according to Adkins.
Hill said the Wolfpack has built up its potential all season and thinks the team is peaking at the right time.
“The energy is good and I can’t see wait to see what happens,” Hill said.
Lincoln-Douglas Debate hopeful junior Teigan Avery is expecting a great competition this weekend. Avery was the champion at Gonzaga in Lincoln-Douglas Debate. While some teams excel in speech events, others in debate, Avery said Glacier excels in being well-rounded.
“As a team, I honestly think we’re all together better than we were last year,” Avery said.
Other Glacier competitors to watch include junior Kyersten Siebenaler, who won all but one tournament this season in Legislative Debate; two-time national qualifier senior Ben Habel, who competes in Memorized Public Address and joins with junior Aaron Robinson in Duo Interpretation (winning first at Gonzaga); national qualifier junior Josie Jolly, who has finished in the top three at every tournament this season; and senior Harrison Kauffman, a returning state champion in Memorized Public Address who added Serious Oral Interpretation over Christmas break and won both events last weekend in Butte
“Harrison is the kind of kid you build your team around,” Adkins said. “His four years in our program have been remarkable. He is driven and competitive. I am hoping he has the final weekend he deserves.”
Flathead’s top competitors are former state champions and two-time national qualifiers juniors Wyatt Dykhuizen and Parker Kouns in Duo Interpretation; national qualifier senior Eli Cornell in Extemporaneous Speaking; defending state champion junior Sarah Ward in Impromptu Speaking; senior Michael Rutledge, a favorite to win state in Expository Speaking; and two-time national qualifier senior Wyatt McGillen in Extemporaneous Speaking.
McGillen is also in the running for Original Oratory, placing in the top four all season, along with teammates juniors Maija Hadwin and Daniel Sierra.
Hadwin said she has been practicing daily and can’t wait for state and the final moment when the top teams are announced.
“I am just excited to be there and I really hope that we get to bring back the state championship. We’ve been preparing so hard for this and we’re trying,” Hadwin said.
Dykhuizen is looking forward to all the hard work paying off.
“We’ve had a really good season,” Dykhuizen said.
Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.