With just seven kids competing at the Class B speech and drama state tournament, Bigfork High School didn’t have much hope of stealing the state title from the division’s powerhouse, Loyola Sacred Heart High School.

But the team did emerge from this weekend’s state tournament with a champion.

James Vale and Jacob Sefcak finished in first place in Humorous Duo, a victory that head coach Charlie Appleby praised.

“They went into finals losing and turned it around and won it,” he said. “We like that better than the other way around.”

As a team, Bigfork didn’t place at the Class B-C state tournament, which Loyola hosted in Missoula. Loyola won for the 27th straight year. Colstrip won the Class B drama title, and Gardiner is the Class C state champion in speech and drama.

It was Bigfork’s first appearance at the B-C state meet, after dropping from Class A to Class B this fall because of declining enrollment. Fifty-nine schools competed at the meet Friday and Saturday, Appleby said, which made the Humorous Duo victory even more impressive.

“While this was the smallest team I’ve ever taken to state, they were the most resilient and hardest fighting team I’ve ever seen,” he said. “There was no give in this team.”

Kayla Carlson, who last year won the Class A state title in Memorized Public Address, came in fifth in that event this weekend. She actually was in the lead going into the semifinal round, Appleby said.

“It shows just how tough the competition was — and how resilient” the competitors were, he said.

Zoe Gaiser brought home a fifth-place finish in Humorous Oral Interpretation, and Amber McDaniel finished eighth in Serious Solo.

Alex Neu just missed finals in Impromptu Speaking, Appleby said.

“Just to make it to semis was a big deal,” he said. “It was a good two days, but it was a hard-fought fight all the way through.”

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com.