The Columbia Falls speech and debate team took first place honors at the Frenchtown meet Oct. 24-25.

The Wildcats had several first place finishes. Mason Gedlaman took first place finish in impromptu and second in humorous oral interpretation, Bailey Duke was first in serious oral interpretation, Casey Shea was first in oratory, Cody Phillips was second in extemporaneous and Breanna Friar was second in memorized public address. On the debate side, Mary Gross had a first place finish in Lincoln-Douglas debate with Maddie Mantell taking second. Freshmen Annabel Conger and Colin Norick placed second in policy debate.

“Our goal for this weekend was to learn and I would say we met our goal,” said coach Tara Norick. “Thirty-two out of 40 team members placed in the top eight in their events.”

Lincoln Douglas Debate

1st Mary Gross

2nd Maddie Mantell

3rd Colter Norick

5th Shelby Greene

7th Mikel Knutson

Policy Debate

2nd Annabel Conger & Colin Norick

4th Mara Barnes & Monique Schoech

5th Tya Bonawitz & Hailey Lemburg

8th Estevon Torres & Danny Morgan

8th Mark Shamp & Tim Ingham

Original Oratory

2nd Casey Shea

4th Baylee Brinton

5th Ali Gould

Memorized Public Address

2nd Breanna Friar

3rd Alex Damon

7th Joey Tambourelli

Impromptu Speaking

1st Mason Gedlaman

5th Henry Chisholm

6th Cody Phillips

Expository Speaking

3rd Baylee Brinton

5th Samantha Gilk

7th Olivia Lewis Peterson

Humorous Oral Interpretation

2nd Mason Gedlaman

8th Hannah Gustin

Serious Oral Interpretation

1st Bailey Duke

8th Garrett Role

Extemporaneous Speaking

2nd Cody Phillips

5th Henry Chisholm

6th Emily Getts