The Columbia Falls Wildcats are ready to pounce on the opportunity to achieve a ninth consecutive speech and debate state title, with 27 returning veterans and 30 up-and-coming speakers.

“We work hard to have balance on our team across all seven speech events and both debate events. We have a full JV team this year for the first time,” Columbia Falls head coach Tara Norick said. “It will be a challenging season to have two full speech and debate teams, nine different events, with just three coaches.”

Veterans to watch this year include state champions Allison Foust, Lincoln-Douglas Debate; Mason Gedlaman, Impromptu Speaking and Humorous Oral Interpretation; and Baylee Brinton, Expository Speaking; and National Forensic League qualifiers Monique Schoech and Mara Barnes.

Newcomers who have shown promise as strong competitors include Policy Debaters Annabel Conger, Colin Norick, Hailey Lemburg and Tya Bonawitz, and Original Oratory competitor Ali Gould.

Norick said the team “hit the ground running,” when practice began Oct. 1 for their first competition in Frenchtown today. She has defined some of the goals for the season.

“We need to stay focused on the diligent, hard work that produces top competitors and a state championship team,” Norick said. “Our goal this year is to work and compete as a team rather than as a group of individuals, supporting each other throughout the process.”

Norick said Billings Central Catholic High School and Hamilton High School are the teams to beat.

“Billings Central is always very strong competition from the east, but we will not compete against them until the state tournament in Hamilton, so we just have to work our hardest to be ready at that time.

“Hamilton placed third at state last year and is a very motivated and balanced team with the home field advantage at the state tournament this year. They will be the team to beat throughout the season,” Norick said.

The other local Class A team, the tenacious Bulldogs of Whitefish High School, have their first competition Nov. 2 in Columbia Falls.

Gary Carmichael, Whitefish’s head coach, said the top competition this year is Columbia Falls and Billings Central.

“Polson and Whitefish should give a great showing at divisionals in speech, with Libby being the divisional powerhouse in drama,” Carmichael said.

Whitefish has 12 veterans returning this year, and 18 newcomers have joined the team.

Competitors to watch this season include divisional champions Madison Grady, Policy Debate; Samuel Benkelman, Expository; Sage Jackson, Memorized Public Address; Sloan Ellis, Impromptu; Elsa Dodds, Extemporaneous; Jordan Reese, Policy Debate; and Cassidy Grady, Memorized Public Address.

“Every student this year has so much potential,” Carmichael said. “We want students to do their very best each tournament, develop lifelong communication skills, and we also want them to have fun.”