Columbia Falls dominated the Northwest A Divisional Speech and Debate Tournament on Saturday, beating second place Polson 207 to 79. Whitefish came in at third with 64 points.

The Wildcats took near-sweeps in Lincoln-Douglas, policy, serious oral interpretation and oratory while sweeping memorized public debate and humorous oral interpretation. In all, Columbia Falls won five categories outright, placed second in seven and third in five.

Polson’s Sharidan Russell won both impromptu and extemporaneous speaking, earning glowing reviews from head coach Jon Petersen.

“She really dominated the finals,” he said. “And frankly ran away with her medals.”

The top six finishers in each event qualified for the state tournament, to be held in Hamilton Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

Results from Northwest A Tournament:

Lincoln-Douglas debates: 1. Allison Foust, Columbia Falls; 2. Mary Gross, Columbia Falls; 3. Jacob Raymond, Polson; 4. Cash Sisler, Polson; 5. Bahlol Khan, Whitefish; 6. Maddie Mantell, Columbia Falls; 7. Frank Pope, Polson.

Policy debate: 1. Meredith Stolte and Colter Norick, Columbia Falls; 2. Mara Barnes and Monique Schoech, Columbia Falls; 3. Madison Grady and Jordan Reese, Whitefish; 4. Tommy Mercer and Sam Heutmaker, Polson; 5. Annabel Conger and Colin Norick, Columbia Falls; 6. Katie Stobie and Annabelle Smith, Polson.

Oratory: 1. Sloan Ellis, Whitefish; 2. Casey Shea, Columbia Falls; 3. Lexi Corbett, Columbia Falls; 4. Chloe Foster, Columbia Falls; 5. Kania Smith, Polson; 6. Solomon Ziegert, Whitefish.

Memorized public address: 1. Alex Damon, Columbia Falls; 2. Bailey Duke, Columbia Falls; 3. Breanna Friar, Columbia Falls; 4. Hannah Hodges, Polson; 5. Kylie Koberg, Polson; 6. Rachael Seymour, Whitefish. 

Impromptu: 1. Sharidan Russell, Polson; 2. Mason Gedlaman, Columbia Falls; 3. Casey Shea, Columbia Falls; 4. Sloan Ellis, Whitefish; 6. Henry Chisholm, Columbia Falls; 7. Dominic Rosatti, Polson; 8. Sam Benkelman, Whitefish.

Expository: 1. Haley Kendley, Polson; 2. Sam Benkelman, Whitefish; 3. Baylee Brinton, Columbia Falls; 4. Olivia Lewis-Peterson, Columbia Falls; 5. Samantha Gilk, Columbia Falls; 6. Shannon McGinnis, Polson; 7. Matthew Hutchinson, Whitefish; 8. Eleonora DiMaira, Polson.

Humorous oral interpretation: 1. Mason Gedlaman, Columbia Falls; 2. Lexi Corbett, Columbia Falls; 3. Mark Hader, Columbia Falls; 4. Abbie Belcher, Whitefish; 5. Clara Siegelin, Polson; 6. Makkie Haller, Whitefish; 7. Adrian Dodson, Polson.

Serious oral interpretations: 1. Mark Hader, Columbia Falls; 2. Bailey Duke, Columbia Falls; 3. Hunter Cripe, Whitefish; 5. Brian Jore, Polson; 6. Kania Smith, Polson; 8. Breanna Friar, Columbia Falls.

Extemporaneous speaking: 1. Sharidan Russell, Polson; 2. Cody Phillips, Columbia Falls; 3. Elsa Dodds, Whitefish; 4. Henry Chisholm, Columbia Falls; 5. Abbie Belcher, Whitefish; 6. Makkie Haller, Whitefish; 7. Emily Getts, Columbia Falls.

Bigfork competed in the 7-B Divisional Meet at Malta and won the overall championship.

Results for Bigfork 

Expository: 1. Mielle Hubbard, Bigfork; 5. Seth Anderson, Bigfork;

Humorous: 7. Brett Bradstreet, Bigfork;

Oratory: 1. Shannon Frizzell, Bigfork; 3. Sierra Curtis, Bigfork. 

Serious: 4. Elizabeth Kalanek, Bigfork; 

MPA: 1. Maddie Lorang, Bigfork; 

Impromptu: 1. Danny McVay, Bigfork; 

Extemporaneous: 2. Gunnar Boose, Bigfork;