Bigfork hosts state speech and debate tournament

Students from dozens of campuses across the state will face off in battles of wit, research and oratory skill during the State Class B-C Speech and Drama Tournament, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 at Bigfork Schools. Over the course of two days, competitors will demonstrate their speaking and acting abilities in 17 different events. To qualify for the competition, students had to place in the top six at the divisional meet, held Jan. 24-25 in Shelby. Eleven students from Bigfork’s 21-person team will be competing at the event.

“I’m kinda scared, I’m not gonna lie, but also confident at the same time. I have done theater and that’s helped me,” said freshman competitor, Emma Dawson, of the state meet. “I love our team so much. Everyone’s doing great.”

Members of the public can sit in on the action both days, and Bigfork assistant coach Charlie Appleby said there’s something to entertain everyone.

“[There’s] everything from pantomime to people arguing whether or not the U.S. should sell firearms to foreign counties,” Appleby said.

Extemporaneous speaking is an interesting event to watch, he noted, since the students are given a prompt and have just 30 minutes to prep before they deliver a speech that’s at least five minutes long. Topics typically focus on current events and international news.

Then there’s informative speaking, which can cover just about anything from sharks to fire safety. These talks can be accompanied by visual aids and are designed to educate rather than advocate for a particular perspective.

“You sit in there and you just learn for 80 minutes,” Appleby said.

Also not to be missed are the dramatic events, which Appleby likened to watching a series of 10-minute plays. Categories include humorous solo, dramatic and classic theater and pantomime.

For those who want to do more than just watch, Appleby said the school is still about 50 judges short and is actively seeking volunteers. As on Monday afternoon, there were multiple openings on Friday afternoon and for both shifts on Saturday. To sign up to judge, visit www.bigforkschools.org and click the link at the top of the page. No prior experience is necessary.

“I think it’s great for the community — that’s one of the reasons I wanted to do it,” Appleby said of hosting state. “To be able to show our community what our kids can do and to be able to show off our community to these people from Glasgow and Roundup … it’s a big deal.”

Heading into the state meet on the heels of their second place finish at divisionals behind Great Falls Central, Appleby is expecting to see strong individual placings from his veteran speakers. He said Bigfork has the best policy debate team the school has even seen with Anton Young and Elyse Pendlay, and has high hopes for impromptu speaker Ben Keller who took second two years ago — to another Bigfork student — and fourth last year. Mya Hartig, who finished fourth in memorized public address, is also expected to finish in the top tier at the state meet. Both Keller and Hartig took the divisional championship in their respective categories.

“I’m looking for any or all of them to win — we have this really strong senior presence,” Appleby said. “For me, it’s about individual growth for all of them, as opposed to team excellence.”

Appleby said the competition for the top spot at state this year could be fierce. Loyola Sacred Heart has won the state championship for an unprecedented 36 years running — the longest reign for any high school in any school activity statewide. However, Appleby said Three Forks is “looking good this year” and Great Falls Central, which was recently reclassified from Class C to Class B, is “on this awesome upward trajectory — I foresee them to be a challenge as well.” ¦