Students place at national speech and debate

Glacier and Flathead high schools competed at the National Speech and Debate tournament in Dallas, Texas, in June.

Glacier’s Ashlyn Cleveland was a semifinalist, placing ninth, in Extemporaneous Debate; Mercedes Santa was a quarterfinalist in Congressional Debate and Zach Hill and Drew Lorenc were octafinalists who placed in the top 54 in Duo Interpretation.

Other competitors from Glacier included: Dresden Allred, Kaitlyn Carter, Parker Davey, Hallie Nikunen, Hannah Nikunen, Akhil Patel and Asher Robinson.

Two Flathead High School competitors placed in the top 70 and were Scott O’Donnell, International Extemporaneous Speaking and Julia Wynne in Original Oratory. Other competitors were: Eva Bruce, Savannah Metzler, Annabelle Pukas, Carson Robison, Sarabeth Rogge, Kianna Storm and Alan Taylor.

Flathead qualifiers are Melissa Roybal, U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking; Julia Wynne, Original Oratory; Savannah Metzler, Informative Speaking; Annabelle Pukas, Lincoln-Douglas Debate and Eva Bruce and Congressional Debate — House.