Class AA: Glacier 2nd, Flathead 3rd at state speech and debate tournament

The three Class AA high school speech and debate powerhouses battled it out at the state tournament in Helena this weekend with Bozeman capturing the championship title, Glacier second and Flathead third.

Bozeman amassed 178.5 total points for the win. State runner-up, Glacier, scored 142.5 overall points. Flathead placed third with 132.5 points. Sixteen teams competed.

Glacier had four individual state champions — senior Alexa Wilton in Memorized Public Address and Program Oral Interpretation, and juniors Lane McKoy in Informative Speaking and Kenna Sandler in Legislative Debate. Flathead’s two individual state champions were seniors Evan Sevaly and Jillian Wynne in Policy Debate.

Glacier head coach Greg Adkins said it was a tough weekend filled with moments of heartbreak and victory.

“We knew we had to have a great tournament with depth and balance to win this year, and it just didn’t quite happen, and it wasn’t because of lack of effort, or heart, or anything like that. We just had some bad breaks and some unlucky moments. We beat 14 other teams and brought home our fourteenth straight trophy from the state tournament, and yet I looked at our team, and saw their tears and felt their heartbreak,” Adkins said.

“I love this team and I really want to celebrate their success,” he said. “And we had some great stories in both victory and in defeat.”

Flathead head coach Shannon O’Donnell echoed a similar sentiment.

“We competed well this weekend, but unfortunately, we didn't have the final round strength we've seen all season,” O’Donnell said.

“We tip our hats to both Glacier and Bozeman. Character is often revealed in adversity, and I can't say how proud I am of the sportsmanship and positivity of our team, even in the face of a difficult finish this weekend,” she said.

The next tournament will determine who qualifies to compete at nationals in June in Kentucky. The Montana West district qualifier will be held Feb. 11-12 at Flathead High School.

Following are individual results. Competitors placing in the top four spots were recognized with all-state status.

Policy Debate

1. Evan Sevaly and Jillian Wynne, Flathead
2. Katherine Callow and Caitlin Williams, Bozeman
3. Pilar Seielstad and Ashlynn Everett, Big Sky
4. Isabelle Lewis and Ian Thomas Becker, Bozeman
5. Miles Fastnow and Ethan Gilpin, Bozeman
6. Daisy Kulina and Helen McGeary, Sentinel
7. Ryan Tomich and James Hadley, Butte
8. Ray Roberts and Maryn Schutz, Bozeman

Lincoln-Douglas Debate

1. Hunter Gibbs, Billings West
2. Kait Giffin, Glacier
3. Brady Habel, Great Falls
4. Valon Haslem, Great Falls
5. Emmalyn Aley, Billings West
6. Ashton Blake, CMR
7. Aidan Walker, Glacier
8. Ryan Heng, Hellgate

Public Forum Debate

1. Asa Hadley and Timea Rosner, Bozeman
2. Ryan Webster and Ethan Woods, Glacier
3. Melina LaPlante and Tess Robarsky, Hellgate
4. Rohan Fortunati and Iris Swanberg, Hellgate
5. Liza Huggins and Marika Schultz, Bozeman
6. Nayana Sah and Kyla Pertuit, Billings West
7. Maxwell Defanti and Pranshu Krishna, Gallatin
8. Josephina Moretti and Hailey Hiller, Sentinel

Legislative Debate

1. Kenna Sandler, Glacier
2. Cosette Burrese, Sentinel
3. Annelise Mason, Flathead
4. Rachel Ottman, Flathead
5. Garrett Monson, Butte
6. Brennan Jensen, Capital
7. Calvin Schmidt, Glacier
8. Emily Hove, Flathead

Impromptu Speaking

1. Brooke Bothner, Bozeman
2. Scout McMahon, Flathead
3. Leah Spangler, Flathead
4. Olivia Bulis, Bozeman
5. Jackson Long, Gallatin
6. Neila Lyngholm, Flathead
7. Taylor Pooton, Flathead
8. Eleanor Cornish, Bozeman

Extemporaneous Speaking

1. Olivia Bulis, Bozeman
2. Leah Spangler, Flathead
3. Scout McMahon, Flathead
4. Brooke Bothner, Bozeman
5. Rylin Wilde, Flathead
6. Jonas Jontow, Sentinel
7. Bella Teggema, Glacier
8. Caleb Lamb, Glacier

Program Oral Interpretation

1. Alexa Wilton, Glacier
2. Emily Mowat, Billings West
3. Elisapeta Mamea, Senior
4. Myah Lee, Sentinel
5. Tristan Pritham, Bozeman
6. Sophia Marsolek, Hellgate
7. Olive Baewer, Skyview
8. Bethany Nairn, Flathead

Duo Interpretation

1. Hugh Burroughs and Tristen Pritham, Bozeman
2. Evan Schow and Tag SchowFlathead
3. Isaac Lorenc and Davis Rennie, Glacier
4. Lizzie Nitz and Samantha Wheeler, Belgrade
5. Logan Sigler and Jude Birkel Wolfe, Bozeman
6. Avram Bingham and Kaelin Holt, Glacier
7. Rylie Curry and Ella Shea, West
8. James Francis and Kadence Johnson, Flathead

Humorous Interpretation

1. Gabriel Malek, West
2. Mae Turoski, Bozeman
3. Audrey Stenhouse, Bozeman
4. Adam Williams, Butte
5. James Francis, Flathead
6. Bauer Hollman, Flathead
7. Meyer Fauth, Glacier
8. Aiden Christy, Flathead

Dramatic Interpretation

1. Logan Sigler, Bozeman
2. Hugh Burroughs, Bozeman
3. Ryan Tiet, Flathead
4. Alyx McAdam, Great Falls
5. Olivia Davidson, Capital
6. Kylie Franks, West
7. Annabeth O'Shea, Glacier
8. Kadence Johnson, Flathead

Memorized Public Address

1. Alexa Wilton, Glacier
2. Avram Bingham, Glacier
3. Aryana Allred, Glacier
4. Erica Berger, Belgrade
5. Olivia Smith, Bozeman
6. Janasya Amaker, Glacier
7. Abigail Sheets, Bozeman
8. Hailey Hendrickson, Flathead

Original Oratory

1. Raven West, Bozeman
2. Mac Adkins, Glacier
3. Sophia Marsolek, Hellgate
4. Quindy Gronley, Glacier
5. Olivia Smith, Bozeman
6. Isabella AuClaire, Glacier
7. Kinley Little, Great Falls High
8. Alison Apostle, Gallatin

Informative Speaking

1. Lane McKoy, Glacier
2. Rya Nichols, Hellgate
3. Neila Lyngholm, Flathead
4. Chloe Caldwell, Hellgate
5. Payton Fyffe, Sentinel
6. Mason Hermann, Flathead
7. Elise Strobel, Glacier
8. Moira Sparks, Belgrade

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 406-758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.