The Whitefish speech and debate team took first place at the Polson meet Saturday. 

The Bulldogs finished first with 85 sweepstakes points, followed by Columbia Falls at 63 and Polson at 36.

“Overall, I am very optimistic looking forward into January,” Coach Sara Mueller said. “We are up against some intense competition, and we will need to decide in the next few weeks how important our goals are to us. The senior leadership will be instrumental down the stretch to keep us focused and competing as a cohesive unit.”

Individual results:

Impromptu: 1.Abbie Belcher, 5. Teigen Temper

Extemporaneous: 2. Abbie Belcher, 4. Zach Ade

Original oratory: 1. Sam Benkelman

Memorized public address: 3. Sam Benkelman, 5. Austin Reese, 7. Zach Ade

Expository: 7. Regan Tintzman

Humorous oral interpretation: 6. Saige Perchy

Serious oral interpretation- 2. Ella Van Vlack, 8. Hunter Crepe

Public forum debate: 6. Bailey McCann and Cody Casazza, 5. Dakota Hanson and Julien Leroux

Lincoln-Douglas debate- 6. Galen Jamison