Columbia Falls wins 10th straight Class A speech title

The Columbia Falls High School state championship dynasty continued Saturday as the team overwhelmed the competition on its home turf at the Class A speech and debate state tournament.

It was the 10th consecutive state title for the Wildcats.

Columbia Falls Head Coach Tara Norick said the team did a great job.

“I couldn’t be more excited. Ten years, wow,” Tara Norick said. Norick has been head coach for the last five years and on the coaching staff for a total of 11 years. 

Columbia Falls earned 245 sweepstakes points for its first-place speech win, far outdistancing second-place Belgrade’s 102 points. Hamilton was third with 87 points and Whitefish placed fourth with 84 points.

The first individual event to be announced during the awards ceremony in the high school gym named Columbia Falls senior Meredith Stolte as the state champion for Impromptu Speaking — a good omen for what was to come. 

This was the first season Stolte competed in the event. Her expression was one of happiness verging on laughing and crying as her team stood up and erupted in cheers. Stolte later also took first place in Original Oratory. The state championships in both events were firsts for Stolte.

“It feels like everything has come full circle,” Stolte said. “I’ve been in Original Oratory for three years and my goal was to take first in state. I just let go of the worry because this was my last time giving the speech.”

Stolte was jubilant about the work her team put into earning a 10th consecutive state title.

“I think pride doesn’t even come close to describing the feeling,” Stolte said. “I know it’s cliché, but it feels really good to win.” 

Columbia Falls senior Bailey Duke also achieved two individual championships in Memorized Public Address and Serious Oral Interpretation. Competition in Memorized Public Address was tough, according to Duke, particularly from second-place finisher Sam Benkelman, a Whitefish High School standout who was state champion in Expository Speaking.

“It’s an awesome feeling because you put in all the work for four years, and you are at practice every day, and you’re on the buses for long bus rides, and you are putting in time with your coaches,” Duke said. “To finally win and see all the stuff that you’ve been working so hard for finally being fulfilled is amazing.” 

After winning the state title, teammates gathered to give each other crushing hugs. 

There were some tears as seniors said farewell. A tearful up-and-coming debater reached out to Colter Norick, a teammate and the state champion in Lincoln-Douglas Debate. 

“Now you’ll fill my shoes,” Colter Norick told her.

In drama sweepstakes, Corvallis was state champion with 176 points, followed by Stevensville in second place with 75 points, Belgrade in third with 69 points and Laurel in fourth with 40 points.

Class A Speech Sweeps

1. Columbia Falls, 245

2. Belgrade, 102

3. Hamilton, 87

4. Whitefish, 84

Policy Debate 

1. Matt Molzhan and Katy Lindberg, Belgrade

2. Colin Norick and Annabel Conger, Columbia Falls

3. Monique Schoech and Anna Nicosia, Columbia Falls

4. Kyle McMillan and Marcus Twichel, Laurel

5. Bridget Peak and Jeff Bafley, Billings Central

6. Brendan Wathan and Ellen Myhre, Hamilton

7. Delacie O’Niell and Mason Douglas, Belgrade

8. Genevieve Ayers and Allison Walter, Billings Central

Lincoln Douglas Debate 

1. Colter Norick, Columbia Falls

2. Jamie Severson, Belgrade

3. Ben Longbottom, Laurel

4. Charles Umhay, Stevensville

5. Frank Dwyer, Butte Central

6. Mikel Knutson, Columbia Falls

7. Natalie Temple, Dawson County

8. Jacob Bachmeir, Havre

Extemporaneous Speaking 

1. Nick Sundberg, Stevensville

2. Cody Phillips, Columbia Falls

3. Emily Heitmann, Hamilton

4. Danny Morgan, Columbia Falls

5. Curtis Schiwal, Stevensville

6. Zach Ade, Whitefish

7. Abigail Belcher, Whitefish

8. Kyra Merchen, Laurel

Impromptu Speaking 

1. Meredith Stolte, Columbia Falls

2. Keegan Grady, Belgrade

3. Curtis Schiwal, Stevensville

4. Henry Chisholm, Columbia Falls

5. Nick Sundberg, Stevensville

6. Peter Wright, Fergus

7. Casey Shea, Columbia Falls

8. Abigail Belcher, Whitefish

Original Oratory 

1. Meredith Stolte, Columbia Falls

2. Hira Ramay, Whitefish

3. Keegan Grady, Belgrade

4. Jenna Lockman, Stevensville

5. Cade Bowman, Laurel

6. Linneah Hanson, Stevensville

7. Casey Shea, Columbia Falls

8. Tommy Pankratz, Billings Central

Expository Speaking 

1. Sam Benkelman, Whitefish

2. Samantha Gilk, Columbia Falls

3. Emily Getts, Columbia Falls

4. Emily Heitmann, Hamilton

5. David Otto, Belgrade

6. Teigen Tremper, Whitefish

7. Tommy Pankratz, Billings Central

8. Kennedy Anglesey, Sidney

Memorized Public Address 

1. Bailey Duke, Columbia Falls

2. Sam Benkelman, Whitefish

3. Emma Gantt, Hamilton

4. Jesse Knapp, Corvallis

5. Breanna Friar, Columbia Falls

6. Alyssa Dawes, Laurel

7. Arizona Martin, Hamilton

8. Chloe Foster, Columbia Falls

Humorous Oral Interpretation 

1. Peter Wright, Fergus County

2. Ava Chisholm, Columbia Falls

3. Karissa Chouinard, Hamilton

4. Jesse Knapp, Corvallis

5. Jenna Smith, Columbia Falls

6. Jerelyn Jones, Columbia Falls

7. Christian Anglesey, Sidney

8. Arizona Martin, Hamilton

Serious Oral Interpretation 

1. Bailey Duke, Columbia Falls

2. Finn Belanger, Hamilton

3. Jenna Smith, Columbia Falls

4. Karissa Chouinard, Hamilton

5. Jenna Lockman, Stevensville

6. Jordan Broussard, Polson

7. Estevon Torres, Columbia Falls

8. Ethan Smith, Havre