Kalispell's high schools aim for another year of success
Flathead sophomores Sophia Dykhuizen and James Francis practice for speech and debate on Monday afternoon at Flathead High School. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)
Shelbie Guckenberg, a junior, gives sophomore Kadence Johnson her notes on Johnson’s dramatic interpretation at Flathead High School. The students are part of the speech and debate team and were practicing on Monday afternoon for their upcoming competition. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)
Flathead junior Shelbie Guckenberg performs her dramatic interpretation for fellow speech and debate team member Kadence Johnson as they practice on Monday afternoon, October 28.(Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)
Mattie Johnson, a junior, left, Zephy Hanson, center and Libby Schneider, both sophomores, at speech and debate practice on Tuesday, October 29, at Glacier High School. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier senior Hailey Anderson performs a dramatic interpretation at speech and debate practice on Tuesday, Oct. 29.
It’s going to be all talk for the next few months as speech and debate members starts the competitive season today with the Kalispell Kickoff.
Defending Class AA state champion team Glacier High School and state runner-up Flathead High School will once again go head to head.
Glacier Head Coach Greg Adkins and Flathead Head Coach Shannon O’Donnell highlighted some of their goals and expectations for the season.
“As the defending state AA champions, we know that we have a target on our back, and we also know we need to figure out how to replace all of those lost to graduation. We are hopefully reloading the team for another run for a state title,” Adkins said, later adding, “The foundation is built here in the program and we are very proud of our five state championships since 2011. None of that happened by accident, and hard work and discipline always win out.”
Adkins sees Glacier continuing to excel in debate events as it has in past seasons.
“I like the depth of our Legislative Debate, Policy and Public Forum squads. We also have a bunch of new debaters in LD [Lincoln-Douglas] Debate,” Adkins said.
For Flathead, O’Donnell forecasts a season that continues a track record of strong performances in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu Speaking and memorized events such as Original Oratory, Informative Speaking and Memorized Public Address.
“I anticipate a season of strong competition and very close tournament finishes,” O’Donnell said. “Flathead has some strong returners and a nice base of newcomers. The key will be whether or not we can develop the new talent quickly enough.”
She also spoke on Flathead’s goals for the season.
“This year’s goal is to focus on one tournament at a time, working to stay focused and driven through the state tournament in January. We have a lot of strong veterans, but Glacier and Bozeman are just as strong. Last year was a dogfight to the end, and this year is likely to be similar. It will take a full team effort all season to stay in the running,” O’Donnell said.
Adkins expects Bozeman and Flathead will put up a great season of competition.
“Flathead has a great returning core and Bozeman will be competing for the last time as the only high school in Bozeman, so that should give them an extra incentive,” he said. “With the state tourney in Bozeman in January, I’d probably say they are Bozeman High is the team to beat. If we can build some depth with our newcomers, I think we should be able to compete by the end of the season.”
Both teams will be anchored by veteran competitors who are returning state champions, national qualifiers or bring in valuable experience.
For the Glacier Wolfpack, Simon Roston and Mercedes Santa will defend their state championship title in Policy Debate. Returning national qualifiers on the team include: Dresden Allred, Duo Interpretation; Parker Davey, Congressional Debate; Hannah Nikunen, Public Forum Debate; and Asher Robinson, Duo Interpretation and Program Oral Interpretation.
Other top competitors to watch include: Simon Hill, who was the 2018 state champion in Duo Interpretation and Humorous Interpretation; Sierra Riley in Duo Interpretation and Program Oral Interpretation, the latter of which she was a 2018 national qualifier; Alexa Wilton in Memorized Public Address and Program Oral Interpretation; and Liv Wilson, who is partnered with Nikunen in Public Forum Debate. Matt Glimm, who was the 2018 Duo Interpretation state champion, also returns.
For the Flathead Braves, returning state champions and national qualifiers Julia Wynne in Original Oratory and Carson Robison in Program Oral Interpretation will defend their titles. John Shelton will defend his state champion title in Impromptu Speaking and O’Donnell expects he will be a top contender in Informative Speaking.
Additional returning national qualifiers on the team are: Scott O’Donnell in Extemporaneous Speaking; Sarabeth Rogge in Original Oratory and Savannah Metzler in Informative Speaking.
Other top competitors to watch are Eva Bruce in Lincoln-Douglas Debate and Jonah Love in Humorous Interpretation.
O’Donnell said people may want to also keep an eye on the performances of rookies Ben Davidson and Gabe Reddish in novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate; Jasmine Anderson in Humorous Interpretation and Evan Schow and Jasmine Rhubottom in Duo Interpretation.
Adkins said it’s still too early to tell who its rising stars will be among the roughly 46 freshman who tried out for speech and debate, but said he’s optimistic for the team’s future.
“We also will have a nice crossover of student athletes from the football, soccer, volleyball and cross-country teams. It may mean we will get a bit of a late start, but I’m excited where this team should be in a month or so,” he said.
The Kalispell Kickoff begins at 8 a.m. today at Flathead High School. An awards ceremony is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium. Approximately 445 students from 14 schools are registered to compete.
Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.