The Whitefish High School speech and debate team placed second at the Ronan tournament last weekend.

Whitefish finished with 148 sweepstakes points just behind Columbia Falls with 177.

Coach Sara Mueller said it was a good finish for Whitefish behind a tough Columbia Falls team.

“It looks to be an exciting, back and forth season for us,” she said. “The students are incredibly motivated. They know they’ll have to work hard and with focus to keep pace with such a high level of competition.”

Abbie Belcher once again led the team. She earned her third consecutive tournament championship this season in extemporaneous speaking and placed second in impromptu speaking.

The Bulldogs head to Corvallis this weekend.

Individual results:

Impromptu: 2. Abbie Belcher, 3. Teigen Tremper, 7. Saige Perchy

Extemporaneous: 1. Abbie Belcher, 2. Zach Ade, 5. Makkie Haller

Humorous oral interpretation: 5. Saige Perchy, 7. Makkie Haller

Dramatic oral interpretation: 2. Hunter Cripe

Memorized public address: 2. Zach Ade, 3. Austin Reese, 8. Lindsey Matulionis

Original oratory: 2. Hunter Cripe

Expository: 2. Teigen Tremper, 5. Regan Tintzman

Lincoln-Douglas debate: 3. Galen Jamison, 7. Solomon Zeigert

Policy debate: 4. Zach Kasselder and Ian Caltabiano

Public forum debate: 2. Bailey McCann and Ammann Koch-Ford