Flathead, Glacier debate looking to return to championship form

Flathead and Glacier high schools are looking for a comeback season in speech and debate.

The two teams placed second and third respectively at the 2016 Class AA state championship. After breaking Glacier’s chain of four consecutive state titles and reclaiming the state title in 2015, the Flathead Braves clinched second against the two high schools’ biggest rival besides each other — Bozeman.

With six returning seniors and 18 returning varsity competitors on a team of roughly 120 students who attend practices regularly, Flathead Head Coach Shannon O’Donnell is working with a young team. O’Donnell said it will be a season of rebuilding — but with potential yet to be tapped.

“There is a lot of potential in our new recruits, but how we’ll perform overall remains to be seen. The kids are positive, working hard and looking forward to kickoff,” O’Donnell said.

The events that O’Donnell forecasts as the team’s strength will be in the short prep and interpretation events along with Lincoln-Douglas debate.

The team will derive strength from the returning varsity competitors, which includes: state duo oral interpretation champion, Edgar Hall, who will compete in memorized public address and duo interpretation with partner Tanis Hadwin; state second place finisher in informative speaking, Tristan Phillips; and national qualifiers Sophia Skwarchuk and Noah Love. Love competes in Lincoln-Douglas debate and Skwarchuk in extemporaneous and Iipromptu speaking.

Other top competitors to watch are: Hadwin in informative speaking and duo interpretation with partner Hall; Katie Stobie, in Lincoln-Douglas debate; Annie Jones and Hunter Driear in duo interpretation; Driear in humorous interpretation; and Rebecca Vance in original oratory.

Some of the rising stars are Julia Wynne, Hunter Driear and Sierra Dilworth according to O’Donnell.

“Julia Wynne is an outstanding freshman competing in informative. She has already earned a slot on the varsity roster this weekend [at the Kalispell Kickoff]. Hunter Driear is definitely one to watch in humorous interpretation, as well as in duo with his equally talented partner, Annie Jones. Sierra Dilworth could be a stand-out competitor this year in varsity [Lincoln-Douglas debate.]”

O’Donnell commented that Bozeman is coming into the season with a roster of strong returners and is “poised to be a real powerhouse this year.” Local rival, Glacier is always a team to look out for and this year, she added Billings Skyview to the list.

“Our first goal is always to support each other as a team — then, to work hard, stay humble and compete to the best of our ability every single tournament,” O’Donnell said, but not forgetting to add, “We hope to place in the top three at state.?”

GLACIER HEAD coach Greg Adkins agreed that Bozeman is the team to beat besides Flathead, but he added that the Wolfpack will also be paying attention to Missoula Big Sky.

“I think Missoula Big Sky is a team on the rise, and could surprise some teams this year,” Adkins said.

Adkins summed up the goal for the season succinctly.

“Our goal is to compete for another state title,” Adkins said.

This year will be a climb back to the top, but Adkins said he is excited to be starting the season with roughly 150 students that includes a “great core of seniors and a large number of juniors who have had success already in our program.”

Returners who will bring experience to the team includes: two-time national qualifier and three-time state finalist senior Brock Adkins who will compete in original oratory and dramatic interpretation this season; returning state finalists in public forum debate seniors Erin McHugh and Maya Buckingham; and returning state finalist in legislative debate senior Tristen Lang. Other returning state finalists include juniors Nick Brester in legislative debate; Jenna McCrorie in policy debate; and Emma Trunkle also in policy debate.

The strength of this year’s team will be in memorized and debate events particularly legislative debate and public forum debate Adkins predicted.?

Other top competitors to watch in some of the events mentioned above include: Abigail Roston in legislative debate; Anna Cecil, Millie Espeseth, Keegan Siebenaler, Matt Knuffke and Brenden Anderson in public forum debate; Trey Shields and Aidan Fritz in original oratory; Alec Willis and Natalie Kruger in informative speaking; and Fritz, ?Abi Vanorny, Aleesha Hillis and Nilla Swenson in memorized public address.

STARTING AT 8 a.m. Nov. 5, more than 800 students from 16 schools will converge at Glacier to compete in the Kalispell Kickoff Tournament.

Rounds are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., noon, 2:30 p.m. with finals at 5 p.m. An awards ceremony is planned at 7:30 p.m. in the performance hall.

Hilary Matheson is a reporter for The Daily Inter Lake. She may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.