C-Falls aims for another state title

Columbia Falls High School is aiming to continue its speech and debate domination with a 12th consecutive Class A state title after an undefeated season.

“We put out all into it this year,” Columbia Falls Head Coach Tara Norick said.

She also attributed the success with maturity.

“A lot of it is that I have a mature team this year, with 14 seniors out of 31 that brings a level of experience we don’t usually get to have,” Norick said.

But the team is far from complacent heading into the Class A competition Friday and Saturday in Laurel, where Columbia Falls will compete against last year’s state runner-up, Whitefish High School.

Columbia Falls senior Jerelyn Jones said she is excited “to get out there and represent my town in a positive light and do what I love to do.”

With final exams in the week preceding state practicing has been challenging for the team.

“I just focus, practice my speeches over and over, and get pumped for the tournament,” Jones said. “It’s been difficult juggling finals on top of preparing for state, but I just stay focused and hone in all of my skills so I’m in tip-top shape for the competition.”

Since the team doesn’t get to see the competition in eastern Montana until state, there’s always some level of uncertainty.

“Belgrade has a really large team — they’ve got the numbers and Laurel is really strong in both speech and debate,” Norick said.

The word “diligence” came to mind when Norick described this year’s team.

“The kids are diligent; even though we’ve placed well, they are working hard and making changes in preparation for state and not assuming anything,” Norick said.

Norick said the team is well-balanced across all events in both speech and debate, which is important in Class A competition.

Columbia Falls senior Mikel Knutson echoed this sentiment, saying “We are a strong team across the board. The goal of our team is to make sure we have at least two if not three strong people in every event. It is the depth of our team that allows us to do well.”

Norick listed some of the top contenders: “Senior Danny Morgan has come out on top in Impromptu and Extemporaneous; Jerelyn Jones is in Oratory and HI [Humorous Oral Interpretation] she has won tournaments and is a top competitor; Joey Chester in MPS [Memorized Public Address]; Anna Nicosia and Ava Chisholm are on top in Public Forum Debate. Of course, Annabel Conger and Colin Norick are contenders in Policy Debate and spent four years on the same team, which is quite unusual. Chloe Foster last year took first at state in MPA and was national qualifier, and she is competing again in MPA this year.”

“The team is really close because this large group of seniors have been the heart of team for four years,” Norick said.

Chester, a senior, likely echoed the sentiment of the seniors on the team who are competing for the last time at state.

“I really want to go out with a bang.”

CARISSA SHUPP, who is capping her first year as the Whitefish head coach, said the team has put in the time and effort this season to refine their performances under a new coach with patience.

“The students have worked very hard to learn their events, gain experience at tournaments and become a team. Anytime you have a coaching change, or a large group of seniors leave there is a chance that the team will suffer, but our students worked so hard this year to maintain their own events while helping others learn new events,” Shupp said.

Whitefish junior Zachary Ade said half the battle in prepping for state is being mentally prepared.

“I believe a lot of it is mental, so I spend the days before preparing myself for what the tournament is going to be like,” Ade said. “I try to think about how much I’ve put into my events throughout the season, knowing that I can do my best at state.”

Shupp evaluated the strength of the team heading into state.

“Looking at previous tournaments and previous seasons we have quite a few students I think will do well this year at state in memorized, short prep, and debate [events]. We have a strong group of seniors competing this year and we are hoping to see great things from them,” Shupp said.

Whitefish senior Zachary Kasselder agreed.

“Historically, we have been strong in memorized and short prep events, and I think we still are. We also have some strong up-and-coming interpers,” Kasselder said.

This is Kasselder’s third time competing in Policy Debate at state.

“All other tournaments are preparation for state, you’ve worked all season and it’s your last. Being a senior, it’s the tournament I want to give my all at, coming out of it, win or loss, I want to feel like I was my best at,” Kasselder said.

Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.