Eleventh Heaven: Columbia Falls speech, debate wins 11th straight state A title

This one came down to the wire. The Columbia Falls speech and debate team was biting its nails as it headed into the final rounds of the Class A tournament in Belgrade.

Cross-valley rival Whitefish was ahead by a couple of points, threatening the Wildcats’ winning streak.

“This championship wasn’t decided until the last judge’s sheet was turned in,” said coach Tara Norick. “Our team was just a little bit better.”

Cats 229, Bulldogs, 204. Yee-ha!

Norick said the season started out a bit rocky. The Cats lost four of its first five tournaments to the Bulldogs. But in the end, they came together when they needed to.

The Cats had three individual state champions. Ava Chisholm took first in humorous oral interpretation; Jerelyn Jones nabbed the title in dramatic interpretation and Emily Getts grabbed the title in expository.

Getts, a senior, said it was a tough go.

“I’ve been battling this Corvallis kid all season,” she said. She wasn’t sure she had beaten him until the end.

Jones said she never had a doubt.

“Whitefish drove us all season long,” she said. The competition willed her to succeed.

For Chisholm, she came into the season late, because she also plays volleyball. So it took awhile to find her groove.

“Last year I took second, so I was pretty determined this year,” she said.

The squad loses just four seniors, Norick noted.

The future looks bright.

“Everyone on our team contributed to points,” she said.

Class A Speech Sweeps

1. Columbia Falls, 229

2. Whitefish, 204

3. Polson, 83

Individual Results

Policy Debate

3. Annabel Conger and Colin Norick, Columbia Falls

5. Ruth Nelson and Shayne Williams, Columbia Falls

7. Danielle Schwalk and Ian McKenzie, Columbia Falls

Public Forum Debate

2. Anna Nicosia and Mary Ward, Columbia Falls

7. Cassidy Norick and Kelsey Wright, Columbia Falls

8. Mike Dittrich and Sarah Posey, Columbia Falls

Extemporaneous Speaking

6. Danny Morgan, Columbia Falls

7. Tim Ingham, Columbia Falls

Impromptu Speaking

3. Ava Chisholm, Columbia Falls

7. Tim Ingham, Columbia Falls

8. Willie Baltz, Columbia Falls

Original Oratory

2. Chloe Foster, Columbia Falls

4. Emily Getts, Columbia Falls

Expository Speaking

1. Emily Getts, Columbia Falls

Memorized Public Address

2. Chloe Foster, Columbia Falls

6. Joey Chester, Columbia Falls

7. Emma Erikson, Columbia Falls

Humorous Interpretation

1. Ava Chisholm, Columbia Falls

3. Jerelyn Jones, Columbia Falls

4. Brandon Karberg, Columbia Falls

Dramatic Interpretation

1. Jerelyn Jones, Columbia Falls

5. Jacob Hohman, Columbia Falls