Flathead, Glacier students qualify for nationals

Fourteen local high school speech and debate students have qualified to compete at nationals.

Glacier High School had nine qualifiers and Flathead had five following the Montana District Qualifying Tournament Feb. 8-9 in Billings, which featured 474 entries from 25 teams in all classes.

Glacier’s qualifying students include Dresden Allred, Duo Interpretation; Akhil Patel, Public Forum Debate; Hannah Nikunen, Public Forum Debate; Hallie Nikunen, Public Forum Debate; Kaitlyn Carter, Public Forum Debate; and Ashlyn Cleveland and Congressional Debate - Senate. Three of Glacier’s speech and debate students qualified for two events, but can only compete in one at nationals and have chosen to participate in Duo Interpretation. They are Drew Lorenc and Zach Hill (who also qualified in Humorous Interpretation) and Asher Robinson (who also qualified for Program Oral Interpretation).

Flathead qualifiers are Melissa Roybal, U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking; Julia Wynne, Original Oratory; Savannah Metzler, Informative Speaking; Annabelle Pukas, Lincoln-Douglas Debate and Eva Bruce and Congressional Debate - House.

Columbia Falls High School also competed.

The national competition, organized by the National Speech and Debate Association, will be held June 16-21 in Dallas, Texas.

Following are individual results. If any national qualifiers cannot attend the summer tournament, alternates will have the opportunity to compete.

Public Forum Debate

1. Akhil Patel and Hannah Nikunen, Glacier

2. Hallie Nikunen and Kaitlyn Carter, Glacier

Policy Debate

6. Calie Jo Johnson and Tre Finley, Columbia Falls

Lincoln-Douglas Debate

2. Annabelle Pukas, Flathead

5. Chloe Coberley, Columbia Falls

6. Alan Taylor, Flathead

Duo Interpretation

1. Drew Lorenc and Zach Hill, Glacier

2. Asher Robinson and Dresden Allred, Glacier

Humorous Interpretation

1. Drew Lorenc, Glacier

3. Zach Hill, Glacier

Program Oral Interpretation

2. Asher Robinson, Glacier

4. Carson Robison, Flathead

6. Alexa Wilton, Glacier

Informative Speaking

2. Savannah Metzler, Flathead

4. Julia Wynne, Flathead

5. Jez Schussler, Glacier

Original Oratory

1. Julia Wynne, Flathead

3. Sarabeth Rogge, Flathead

5. Carson Robison, Flathead

U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking

2. Melissa Roybal, Flathead

5. Scott O’Donnell, Flathead

Congressional Debate - Senate

1. Ashlyn Cleveland, Glacier

4. Mason Fauth, Glacier

Congressional Debate - House

2. Eva Bruce, Flathead

8. Parker Davey, Glacier

9. Mercedes Rebich, Glacier