Columbia Falls High School’s speech and debate team was nipped by a talented Hamilton team and finished second at the Corvallis Invitational Tournament November 8 and 9.

Coming off a resounding victory in its annual hosted tournament last weekend, Columbia Falls was only five points away from victory in Class A speech sweeps.

Tara Norick, head coach of the speech team, said that her reigning state champions would be challenged this season.

“This lays out the competitive nature of the remainder of the season,” she wrote in an email. “Hamilton has a strong and balanced team across speech and debate and we will be working to meet their challenge.”

Following are the Corvallis weekend results for Columbia Falls, Whitefish and the Flathead junior varsity teams:

Lincoln-Douglas debate - 5. Allison Foust, Columbia Falls; 8. Bahlol Khan, Whitefish

Policy debate - 7. Maddie Grady and Jordan Reese, Whitefish; 8. Mara Barnes and Monique Schoech, Columbia Falls

Original oratory  - 2. Soloman Ziegart, Whitefish; 4. Lexi Corbett, Columbia Falls; 5. Casey Shea, Columbia Falls; 6. Sloan Ellis, Whitefish; 7. Eliza Thompson, Flathead

Memorized public address - 6. Alex Damon, Columbia Falls; 8. Bailey Duke, Columbia Falls

Impromptu speaking - 1. Mason Gedlaman, Columbia Falls; 2. Sloan Ellis, Whitefish; 6.  Cody Phillips, Columbia Falls; 7. Rebecca Knutson, Flathead; 8. Ben Walseth, Flathead

Expository speaking - 1. Baylee Brinton, Columbia Falls; 3. Yeo Chung, Columbia Falls; 5. Samantha Gilk, Columbia Falls

Humorous oral interpretation - 1. Mason Gedlaman, Columbia Falls; 3. Lexi Corbett, Columbia Falls; 4. Jenna Smith, Columbia Falls; 7. Cassidy Brown, Flathead; 8. Paige Swindle, Flathead

Serious oral interpretation - 2. Kolton Mohn, Whitefish; 3. Jady LeGassey, Flathead; 4. Katie Keller, Flathead; 5. Bailey Duke, Columbia Falls; 6. Garrett Role, Columbia Falls; 7. Kassara Hansen, Flathead

Extemporaneous speaking - 1. Cody Phillips, Columbia Falls; 2. Abbie Belcher, Whitefish; 6. Henry Chisholm, Columbia Falls; 8. Elsa Dodds, Whitefish