The Whitefish speech and debate team took second place behind the host team at the Columbia Falls tournament last weekend. 

Columbia Falls was first in sweepstakes points with 196, followed by Whitefish with 110 and Polson finished third with 46.

Coach Sara Mueller said the team put in effort continuing to practice over the holiday break.

“Many of the students are coming into January with new pieces that we are hopeful will have some payoff,” she said. “There is such stiff competition that every decision we make during the next three weeks is critical.”

Leading the Bulldogs was Zach Ade with first place in memorized public address and Sam Benkelman with first place in original oratory.

Whitefish heads to Bigfork this weekend for the last regular tournament of the season before heading to divisional and state competitions the following weekends.

Individual results:

Policy debate: 5. Ian Caltabiano and Zach Kasselder, 8. Mirielle Krueger and Kate Doorn.

Lincoln-Douglas debate: 5. Lilly Butts, 7. Dakota Hanson

Public forum debate: 3. Bergen Carloss and Kate Ehrenberg, 8. Bailey McCann and Mary Hooks

Impromptu: 8. Saige Percy

Extemporaneous: 5. Makkie Haller, 8. Zach Ade

Memorized public address: 1. Zach Ade, 2. Sam Benkelman, 3. Austin Reese

Expository: 5. Teigen Temper, 8. Regan Tintzman

Oratory: 1. Sam Benkelman, 2. Hunter Cripe, 8. Lindsey Matulionis