A Glacier High School graduate finished fifth in a national

speech and debate meet last week.

Brandon Simpson, who graduated earlier this month from Glacier

High, took fifth in Supplemental Debate at the National Forensic

League National Tournament in Dallas last week. Simpson said he

didn’t expect to do as well as he did.

“I kind of had a feel after each round [that I was doing well], but

I was surprised,” he said. “I was excited but surprised.”

Simpson was the Class AA state champion in Varsity Policy Debate

this year with his partner for that meet, Ashton Geelan. He and

Ashley Berger, who had been his debate partner all season until

illness sidelined her for the state tournament, qualified for the

national competition at a district meet in February.

When Simpson and Berger were eliminated from Policy Debate at the

national tournament, they were eligible to compete in Supplemental

Debate.

The event is a one-on-one debate of subjects that change each

round. Topics at the national tournament included whether the

United States is safer after Osama bin Laden’s death, whether the

debt ceiling should be lifted and whether a college education is a

good investment.

“What makes [Simpson’s] feat even more remarkable is that

Supplemental Debate is not offered in Montana, and Simpson had

never competed in a round until the national tournament,” Glacier

head coach Greg Adkins said in a press release.

Simpson said his experience in Policy Debate helped him make the

switch from a team event to a solo debate.

“Policy helped a lot, preparing me for any kind of debate,” he

said.

In his four years on the team, Simpson “experimented” in Public

Forum, Lincoln-Douglas and Legislative debate, which also helped

him compete in Supplemental Debate at nationals, Adkins said.

“What Brandon accomplished is pretty special. He is such a talented

speaker and insightful persuasive debater,” Adkins said in the

release. “We are really proud of his accomplishments this past

week, and really all four years he debated for the Wolfpack.”

Adkins also praised Quinn Maroney, another recent Glacier graduate,

who was an octofinalist in Impromptu Speaking at the national meet.

Maroney was the state Class AA champion in Original Oratory.

“Quinn’s finish in octofinals also capped off a super year and

career,” Adkins said. “I couldn’t be prouder of this team and these

kids. What we have going at Glacier High is really very special,

and I am thankful and grateful for the wonderful members of our

team, our coaches and the community.”

In addition to Maroney, Simpson and Berger, Glacier students Tucker

Connell (Public Forum Debate), Logan Hendrix (Public Forum Debate)

and Reece Erickson (Congressional Debate-House) advanced past

preliminary rounds. Hunter Garbacz was elected presiding officer in

the Congressional Senate.

Two other Wolfpack members, Clayton McDougall and Tanner Maroney,

competed at the national meet in Duo Interpretation.

Nine students from Flathead High School also qualified for the

national tournament. Hannah Anderson, who graduated earlier this

month, was in the top 16 in Impromptu Speaking. Sam Watson and

Kelly Hendrix advanced beyond preliminary rounds in Lincoln-Douglas

and Public Forum debate, respectively.

Aryn Phillips was Hendrix’s partner in Public Forum Debate. They

recently finished their freshman year, and Hendrix’s brother

competed at nationals in the same event for Glacier, Flathead head

coach Karen Downes said.

Like Simpson, Watson competed in Supplemental Debate and was a

“standout,” Downes said.

Other Flathead competitors at the national meet included Bri Boozel

in Dramatic Interpretation, Natalie Griffin and Peter Hoag in Duo

Interpretation, Hannah Wilson in Congressional Debate-Senate and

Barrie Sugarman in Congressional Debate-House.

The Flathead and Glacier students were able to travel to the

national meet because of financial support from the

community.

“We are very thankful to all of the community members that made it

possible for our nine students to travel to Dallas to compete,”

Downes said. “I think it says a great deal about our community’s

support when we can send 18 kids from both schools to

nationals.”

Local students make mark in national meet

By KRISTI ALBERTSON

The Daily Inter Lake

A Glacier High School graduate finished fifth in a national speech and debate meet last week.

Brandon Simpson, who graduated earlier this month from Glacier High, took fifth in Supplemental Debate at the National Forensic League National Tournament in Dallas last week. Simpson said he didn’t expect to do as well as he did.

“I kind of had a feel after each round [that I was doing well], but I was surprised,” he said. “I was excited but surprised.”

Simpson was the Class AA state champion in Varsity Policy Debate this year with his partner for that meet, Ashton Geelan. He and Ashley Berger, who had been his debate partner all season until illness sidelined her for the state tournament, qualified for the national competition at a district meet in February.

When Simpson and Berger were eliminated from Policy Debate at the national tournament, they were eligible to compete in Supplemental Debate.

The event is a one-on-one debate of subjects that change each round. Topics at the national tournament included whether the United States is safer after Osama bin Laden’s death, whether the debt ceiling should be lifted and whether a college education is a good investment.

“What makes [Simpson’s] feat even more remarkable is that Supplemental Debate is not offered in Montana, and Simpson had never competed in a round until the national tournament,” Glacier head coach Greg Adkins said in a press release.

Simpson said his experience in Policy Debate helped him make the switch from a team event to a solo debate.

“Policy helped a lot, preparing me for any kind of debate,” he said.

In his four years on the team, Simpson “experimented” in Public Forum, Lincoln-Douglas and Legislative debate, which also helped him compete in Supplemental Debate at nationals, Adkins said.

“What Brandon accomplished is pretty special. He is such a talented speaker and insightful persuasive debater,” Adkins said in the release. “We are really proud of his accomplishments this past week, and really all four years he debated for the Wolfpack.”

Adkins also praised Quinn Maroney, another recent Glacier graduate, who was an octofinalist in Impromptu Speaking at the national meet. Maroney was the state Class AA champion in Original Oratory.

“Quinn’s finish in octofinals also capped off a super year and career,” Adkins said. “I couldn’t be prouder of this team and these kids. What we have going at Glacier High is really very special, and I am thankful and grateful for the wonderful members of our team, our coaches and the community.”

In addition to Maroney, Simpson and Berger, Glacier students Tucker Connell (Public Forum Debate), Logan Hendrix (Public Forum Debate) and Reece Erickson (Congressional Debate-House) advanced past preliminary rounds. Hunter Garbacz was elected presiding officer in the Congressional Senate.

Two other Wolfpack members, Clayton McDougall and Tanner Maroney, competed at the national meet in Duo Interpretation.

Nine students from Flathead High School also qualified for the national tournament. Hannah Anderson, who graduated earlier this month, was in the top 16 in Impromptu Speaking. Sam Watson and Kelly Hendrix advanced beyond preliminary rounds in Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum debate, respectively.

Aryn Phillips was Hendrix’s partner in Public Forum Debate. They recently finished their freshman year, and Hendrix’s brother competed at nationals in the same event for Glacier, Flathead head coach Karen Downes said.

Like Simpson, Watson competed in Supplemental Debate and was a “standout,” Downes said.

Other Flathead competitors at the national meet included Bri Boozel in Dramatic Interpretation, Natalie Griffin and Peter Hoag in Duo Interpretation, Hannah Wilson in Congressional Debate-Senate and Barrie Sugarman in Congressional Debate-House.

The Flathead and Glacier students were able to travel to the national meet because of financial support from the community.

“We are very thankful to all of the community members that made it possible for our nine students to travel to Dallas to compete,” Downes said. “I think it says a great deal about our community’s support when we can send 18 kids from both schools to nationals.”