Kalispell speech teams vie for No. 1
The Class AA speech and debate tournament returns to Kalispell this weekend, with Flathead and Glacier high schools contending for the championship title this weekend.
The last time a Kalispell team held the championship title was Flathead’s 2015 win. At the last year’s state tournament, Glacier finished in second and Flathead was third, behind the winning Bozeman team.
The Flathead Braves will be on home turf as it hosts state. The last time Kalispell hosted the state tournament was in 2014 when Glacier claimed the championship title. The first round kicks off at 2 p.m. Friday, and continues at 8 a.m. Saturday. An awards ceremony is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
“The FHS team has progressed nicely this season. We have won every tournament except Bozeman so far, and we are just hoping we can carry it through to the end of this weekend,” Flathead Head Coach Shannon O’Donnell said.
The team is looking to go full force in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, “which has been our best event for the past couple of years,” O’Donnell said. The performances that should also pack a punch at state are Original Oratory, Legislative Debate and Program Oral Interpretation.
“Returning state champs Sierra Dilworth (Lincoln-Douglas) and Bohdi Hollman (Informative Speaking) each hope to have a strong showing this weekend,” O’Donnell said. “Additionally, Melissa Roybal is currently undefeated this season in Legislative Debate, and Julia Wynne has won all but one tournament in Original Oratory. Jonah Love in HI (Humorous Interpretation) and Korbyn Howe in DI (Dramatic Interpretation) have also had strong seasons.”
The Glacier Wolfpack is banking on the progress it has made over the season will be the boost it needs to propel to the top.
“As always, the long season is a grind and work in progress. Honestly, I was a bit disappointed on how our season began. We seemed to be behind and playing ‘catch-up’ for the first month. Since then, I have been excited and encouraged on our growth and improvement as a team. You want to be peaking at this time of the season, and I feel like that has happened,” Glacier Head Coach Greg Adkins said.
He anticipates it will be a tight competition among the three Class AA heavyweight — Glacier, Flathead and Bozeman.
“If we are going to win the state title, it will take a balanced effort from all of the events,” he said, highlighting the team’s strength in Program Oral Interpretation, Memorized Public Address, Duo Interpretation, Humorous Interpretation, Impromptu Speaking, Policy Debate and Public Forum Debate.
Competitors to watch at state include: Drew Lorenc and Zach Hill, Duo Interpretation; Galvin Ness, Original Oratory and Impromptu Speaking; Brooklyn Lamers, Impromptu Speaking and Extemporaneous Speaking; Malea Bauer, Lincoln-Douglas Debate; 2018 state champion in Humorous Interpretation Simon Hill; Sierra Riley, Program Oral Interpretation and Duo Interpretation; Olivia Kalvig, Memorized Public Address; Hallie Nikunen and Kaitlyn Carter, Public Forum Debate; Akhil Patel and Brady Kazmier, Public Forum Debate; and Mercedes Rebich and Simon Roston, Policy Debate.
Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.