Whitefish’s speech and debate team grabbed fourth place at the Loyola invitational meet last weekend in Missoula.

The Bulldogs finished with 44 sweepstakes points in Class A competition behind Columbia Falls, Stevensville and Hamilton.

Leading the team once again was junior Sam Benkelman with a first place finish in memorized public address.

“After a slow start overall, Whitefish had several astounding comebacks in later rounds by team captains Abbie Belcher, Jordan Reese and Hunter Cripe,” coach Sara Mueller said. “This bodes well heading into divisional and state competition, where there will most certainly be highs and lows through the marathon competition.”

Hira Ramay placed second in original oratory.

Mueller said she has been one of the most “consistent speakers with her outstanding and powerful oratory on the use of drone strikes in her native Pakistan.”

The team travels to Libby for the divisional competition this weekend.

Individual results:

Extemporaneous: 6. Abbie Belcher

Original Oratory: 2. Hira Ramay

Expository: 4. Sam Benkelman

Memorized public address: 1. Sam Benkelman, 3. Jordan Reese

Serious oral interpretation: 3. Hunter Cripe