17 students qualify for national speech, debate tournament

Seventeen speech and debate students from Glacier and Flathead high schools have qualified for nationals.

Twelve Glacier students and five Flathead students advance to nationals after competing on Friday and Saturday at the Montana District Qualifying Tournament in Helena.

Glacier qualifiers are: Malea Bauer and Harrison Rennie, Policy Debate; Ashlyn Cleveland and Mercedes Altman Rebich, Policy Debate; Izy Lyon, Lincoln-Douglas Debate; Drew Lorenc and Zach Hill, Duo Interpretation; Kedryn McElderry and Kenzie White, Duo Interpretation; Sierra Riley, Program Oral Interpretation; and Abigail Roston, Congressional Debate — Senate.

Lorenc also qualified in Humorous Interpretation. The competition marks Lorenc’s second time qualifying for nationals along with Bauer, Lyon, Rennie and Roston.

Noah Love’s performance in Lincoln-Douglas Debate makes him a three-time national qualifier for Flathead. Two-time qualifiers Tristan Phillips, Informative Speaking and Rebecca Vance, Original Oratory also made the cut. First-time qualifiers are Jonah Love, Humorous Interpretation and Melissa Roybal, Congress.

The National Speech and Debate Association National Tournament will be held June 17-22 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

If any national qualifiers cannot attend the summer tournament alternates will have the opportunity to compete. Alternates from Flathead include: Jacob Beaudoin, Bohdi Hollman, Reed Miller, Scott O’Donnell, Annabelle Pukas, Moriah Schutt and Julia Wynne. Glacier’s alternates include: Galvin Ness, Jezalyn Schussler and Delaney Wilson,

Glacier placed second and Flathead third overall in team scoring.

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