Local teams look to reclaim top spot

Flathead and Glacier high school speech and debate teams are hoping to earn the coveted title of state champion this weekend.

The two teams will not mince words going into the competition Friday and Saturday in the home turf of longstanding rival and defending Class AA state champion — Bozeman High School.

Bozeman ended the two Kalispell high schools’ five-year domination of the state title in 2016. Flathead and Glacier placed second and third respectively at state last year.

The Flathead Braves are hoping to launch to the top this year.

Students spent the season cultivating the strengths and talents of a young team that rose to each challenge, Flathead Head Coach Shannon O’Donnell said.

“Despite the youth of our team, we remained in the top three throughout the season,” O’Donnell said. “The team continues to push themselves to improve. For the past two weeks, every squad has added extra practices and lengthened practice times.”

And practice has been sophomore Hunter Drier’s mantra. Drier will be competing at state for the first time in Humorous Interpretation and Duo Oral Interpretation.

“My number-one priority, above everything else, has been speech for the past three weeks. Practice, practice, practice,” Drier said.

Taking a place in the top three overall at state is definitely doable if the team pulls together for a strong finish, O’Donnell said, but, “The goal is always to win, of course.”

THE TEAM’S strongest events have been in Informative Speaking, Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, Original Oratory and Lincoln-Douglas Debate.

O’Donnell listed the roster of top contenders.

“Tristan Phillips has had an amazing season in Informative speaking, winning twice and placing in the top four at every tournament,” O’Donnell said.

Phillips placed second at state last year.

“This year, I’d really like to be a state champion,” Phillips said.

O’Donnell continued the list of rising stars and leaders on the team.

“Julia Wynne also has multiple tournaments in the top three in Informative speaking. Rebecca Vance and America Mason both have strong finishes this year in Oratory,” O’Donnell said.

“Sierra Dilworth and Noah Love both have wins in LD [Lincoln-Douglas Debate] this season, and either could come out on top this weekend,” she said. “Grace Cady and Sophia Skwarchuk are always in the mix to win in Extemp and Impromptu.”

With a great group of competitors, O’Donnell said it will be an exciting weekend.

“We’re ready,” she said.

GLACIER DREW strength this season from returners and seniors who showed leadership. Glacier Head Coach Greg Adkins said it’s been “back-and-forth” all season between Glacier and Bozeman.

“Our goal is always to contend for a state championship, and this year we are in great position to battle Bozeman for the top honors,” Adkins said. “They have a very strong team, with great coaches, so we have our work cut out for us in Bozeman, but I love our chances this weekend.”

The team was energized by a recent tournament win in Butte, finishing 30 points ahead of Bozeman. The team is also celebrating its 10th year under the theme “tenacity,” a trait the team exemplified all season according to Adkins.

The Glacier Wolfpack seems as if it won’t be satisfied until the state title is back in its grasp and senior Aleesha Hillis knows the pressure is on.

“We want that state title more than anything, and we will do whatever it takes to get it,” Hillis said. Hillis will compete in Memorized Public Address and Dramatic Interpretation.

Adkins said the team has excelled all season in memorized events such as Original Oratory, Informative Speaking and Memorized Public Address.

“Glacier has dominated at nearly every tournament,” Adkins said. “Seniors Brock Adkins (Oratory) and Alec Willis (Informative) are having the best seasons in their respective events in the school’s history and the MPA Squad is coming off of a top four closeout at Butte led by seniors Aleesha Hillis, Abi Vanorny, Nilla Swenson and junior Aidan Fritz.”

Glacier also had a “huge boost” in scores from its debate squads, which Adkins said will be very beneficial going against Bozeman’s top debators.

“Season champions from these squads include seniors Tristen Lang (Legislative Debate) and Brittany Cory (Lincoln-Douglas Debate),and Maya Buckingham and Erin McHugh (Public Forum Debate),” Adkins said.

This is senior Brock Adkins fourth and final state competition.

“This tournament definitely has a different buzz of excitement and anticipation than the average tournament,” Brock Adkins said. “I have a confidence in this team that I have never experienced before in my speech and debate career.”

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