Loyola meet brings BHS experience

Although only seven members of Bigfork High School’s speech and drama team attended this weekend’s meet at Loyola High School in Missoula, competing against 40-50 kids in every event gave them experience they can take to the next meet.

“Unfortunately we did not have any contenders make it to semifinals at the meet,” BHS coach Charlie Appleby said. “While we didn’t win, it was great to see the AA schools and Loyola and Columbia Falls and see what we need to do to be among them.”

Appleby said Mielle Hubbard and Alex Hider performed the best in Missoula. Hubbard lost out on a tie to make the semifinals in expository and Hider needed to win one more Lincoln-Douglas debate to make the quarterfinals.

“Overall it was exactly what we had expected,” Appleby said. “Even without making semis, each kid got to compete in five rounds.”

Speech and debate takes a break from competing until after Thanksgiving break when they come back for a meet on Dec. 1 in Libby.