The Columbia Falls speech and debate team took second among Class A schools at the Hawker Invitational Speech and Debate Tournament in Bozeman

The Wildcats were edged by rival Hamilton in a tiebreaker at the Jan. 10-11 meet.

The Cats were led by fourth-place finishes from Bailey Duke and Mark Hader in serious oral interpretation and humorous oral interpretation respectively.

“The competition was tough across the board, yet we had 12 competitors in speech semifinals and seven in finals, and two policy debate teams and two Lincoln-Douglas debaters in out rounds,” coach Tara Norick said. “The variety of competition helps prepare us for the state tournament, when we will compete with teams from the east for the first time.”

The Bozeman tournament was the largest the team competed in this season, with all of Montana’s Class AA schools in attendance, three Class A schools and a Class C school.

The Wildcats will compete next in Bigfork on Saturday. Complete results:

Policy debate

6th Meredith Stolte and Colter Norick

12th Mara Barnes and Monique Schoech

Lincoln-Douglas debate

11th Mary Gross

13th Allison Foust

Serious oral

interpretation

6th Mark Hader

Humorous oral

interpretation

7th Lexi Corbett

16th Jenna Smith

Expository speaking

5th Baylee Brinton

11th Samantha Gilk

Extemporaneous

speaking

6th Cody Phillips

Impromptu speaking

12th Casey Shea

Original oratory

16th Chloe Foster

Memorized

public address

8th Alex Damon

10th Bailey Duke