Columbia Falls and Whitefish take first and second at Browning speech and debate tournament

Columbia Falls High School took the top spot at a recent speech and debate tournament in Browning, racking up193 overall points.

Not far behind was second-place finisher Whitefish High School, which scored 122 overall points. 

Columbia Falls head Coach Dawn Roe and Whitefish head coach Sara Mueller said the tournament was an opportunity to compete against competitors from the Eastern side of the state in addition to Class B and C teams.

“Seeing what's going on across the state certainly pushes us in new ways,” Mueller said. “All students who traveled with us were able to place, including several who had their first trip to finals,” Mueller said. “Going into break, this tournament was a great experience to build some momentum. We capped off our second-place finish as a team with tournament champions in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Impromptu, and Duo Interpretation.”

Following are local individual results.

Policy Debate

1. Boone Shanks and Lauren Rogers, Columbia Falls

2. Kynsleigh Gould and Eleanor Hollingsworth, Columbia Falls

3. Alex Losee and Bjorn Bungener, Whitefish

4. Vana Fortune and Aliyah Malloy, Whitefish

Public Forum Debate

2. Quinn Caudle and Christopher Daenzer, Columbia Falls

3. Ana Alevizos and Avery McPherson, Whitefish

4. Logan Emerson and Colton Little, Columbia Falls

5. Keian Moran and Malakai Shaw, Columbia Falls

Lincoln-Douglas Debate

1. Charlotte Perkins, Whitefish 

2. Celestine Young, Columbia Falls

3. Melody McNally, Columbia Falls

7. E. Ratcheye, Whitefish

8. Sage Petioni, Columbia Falls

Extemporaneous Speaking

1. Merrick Fairchild, Columbia Falls

2. David Losee, Whitefish

4. Selah Heinzen, Columbia Falls

5. Kendal Moultray, Columbia Falls

Impromptu Speaking

1. Iona Saraille, Whitefish

2. Astir Pulsifer, Whitefish

6. Shailey Green, Whitefish

Memorized Public Address

1. Merell Cooley, Columbia Falls

2. Unity Loveless, Whitefish

3. Eleanor Smiley, Columbia Falls

7. Kira Shanks, Columbia Falls

8. Nalani Rivera, Columbia Falls

Original Oratory

2. Astir Pulsifer, Whitefish 

6. Iona Saraille, Whitefish

8. Elaina Dorr, Columbia Falls

Informative Speaking

3. David Losee, Whitefish

Humorous Interpretation

1. Kory Moran, Columbia Falls

2. Logan Peterson, Columbia Falls

Dramatic Interpretation

3. Annie Walsh, Whitefish

7. Lorelai DeKay, Columbia Falls

Duo Interpretation

1. Scarlet Burke and Unity Loveless, Whitefish

2. Kajsa Mohr and Lucas Counts, Columbia Falls

3. Ruby Davis and Makenzie Taylor, Columbia Falls

7. Lizzie Burton and Malcom  Frink, Columbia Falls