Col. Falls Speech and Debate takes first at home tourney

Columbia Falls Speech and Debate took first place on its home turf this weekend at a tournament featuring 16 high schools.

The Class A team racked up 176 overall points. Whitefish High School placed second in the Class A division, with 84 points and Frenchtown was third with 41 points.

“We are proud of this team,” Columbia Falls Head Coach Tara Norick said. “It is great to see such a breadth of talent from so many. They really put forth the effort and hopefully the community had the opportunity to see how amazing their kids really are.”

Whitefish Head Coach Sara Mueller said the team is finding its groove and noted the neck-in-neck competition was between teammates Bethany Barnes and Elizabeth Campbell in Informative Speaking.

“They have each won a previous tournament this season, and went 1-2 in their first competition together this weekend. It took every tiebreaker we have to separate them into first and second place,” Mueller said. “I expect them to push each other throughout the season and look forward to adding senior Regan Tintzman to that power squad by the next tournament.”

In Class B-C speech and debate, Bigfork took first with 26 overall points and placed second in drama.

“For our second meet with a small, young team we actually did pretty well,” Bigfork Head Coach Charlie Appleby said. “We finished with 26 points tied with Polson for fourth in ABC behind host C-Falls, Whitefish and a surprisingly good Frenchtown team that acquired all but one of their points in Debate rather than speech events.”

Class AA junior varsity teams from Flathead and Glacier also competed at the tournament. Glacier took first in Class AA with 134 points followed by Flathead with 73.

Glacier Head Coach Greg Adkins said the tournament gave the opportunity for junior varsity to gain competition experience.

“I’m very excited about the progress our young team is making this season,” Adkins said.

Flathead Head Coach Shannon O’Donnell noted that nine out of the team’s 12 individual first-place finishers were underclassmen.

“It was wonderful to see so many of our new recruits performing well. They’ve been working hard, and it’s nice to see that pay off,” O’Donnell said.

Original Oratory

1. Colter Girardot, Flathead

2. Paige Moriarty, Columbia Falls

3. Anna Christensen, Flathead

6. Suzanna Rosalez, Columbia Falls

7. Liz Hyde, Bigfork

8. Haileigh Bayee, Columbia Falls

Dramatic Interpretation

1. Lucy Schindler, Whitefish

2. Isaac Adams, Columbia Falls

4. Hailey Anderson, Glacier

5. Korbyn Howe, Flathead

6. Naya Brigette, Whitefish

7. Janaysa Amaker, Glacier

8. Ruby Green, Glacier

Humorous Interpretation

1. Isaac Adams, Columbia Falls

2. Isaac Lorenc, Glacier

3. Ave’ McDonald, Columbia Falls

4. Lucy Schindler, Whitefish

5. Rally Belcher, Whitefish

6. Johann Buzzard, Glacier

7. Shelbie Guckenberg, Flathead

8. Sydney Harp, Flathead

Impromptu Speaking

1. Paige Moriarity, Columbia Falls

2. Sam Lovering, Columbia Falls

4. Ethan Eagleton, Glacier

5. Caleb Lamb, Glacier

6. Gavin Aus, Glacier

7. Sabrina Orr, Flathead

8. Ben Keller, Bigfork

Extemporaneous Speaking

1. Lauren Stratton, Glacier

2. Abigail Bowden, Whitefish

3. Bethany Barnes, Whitefish

4. Sam Lovering, Columbia Falls

5. Scout McMahon, Flathead

7. Trinity Kurr, Flathead

8. Megan Bonefeole, Flathead

Informative Speaking

1. Bethany Barnes, Whitefish

2. Elizabeth Campbell, Whitefish

4. Eowyn Zuckert, Glacier

5. Anya Young, Bigfork

7. Alexis Reiner, Glacier

Lincoln-Douglas Debate

1. Emily Woods, Glacier

6. Lilly Butts, Whitefish

7. Cole Hider, Bigfork

Public Forum Debate

1. Cassidy Norick and Kelsey Wright, Columbia Falls

2. Hannah Nikunen and Akhil Patel, Glacier

3. Mickaela Rebich and Garrett Hinzman, Glacier

5. Emma Stephens and Griffin Conger, Columbia Falls

6. Gator Mostek and David Skwarchuk, Glacier

7. Mary Hooks and Ian Lacey, Whitefish

8. Lara Erickson and Laney Conger, Columbia Falls

Policy Debate

1. Shyane Williams and Ava Foley, Columbia Falls

2. Calie Jo Johnson and Tre Finley, Columbia Falls

3. Parker Davey & Caitlyn Franke, Glacier

5. Ian McKenzie and Maggie McKeon, Columbia Falls

6. Dani Mayeaux and Aidan McMahan, Whitefish

7. Daniel Edelen and Evan Sevaly, Flathead

8. Nicole Mitchell and Mariah Dickey, Glacier

Memorized Public Address

1. Anna Christensen, Flathead

2. Emmalee Hellen, Columbia Falls

3. Morgan Kelly, Flathead

4. Maya Hartig, Bigfork

6. Ty Espeseth, Glacier

7. Emily DeWitt, Glacier

Drama events

Humorous Duo

3. Jack Johnson and Ani Beth, Bigfork