Columbia Falls High School Speech and Debate brought home its seventh tournament win of the season after a narrow victory over Whitefish in Hamilton on Saturday.

Columbia Falls earned 159 over points for the Class A win, followed by Whitefish with 128 points.

Multiple Columbia Falls team members competed in two speech events back-to-back, contributing to the team’s overall score.

“Not everyone realizes how speech and debate can be physically demanding,” Columbia Falls Head Coach Tara Norick saud. “These kids compete from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and are on their feet most of that time. The stress of competition, and the necessity that they be on the top of their mental game for that entire time, is grueling.”

Whitefish Head Coach Sara Mueller said this tournament was the team’s “best showing of the season.”

“The most impressive part of the weekend was realizing that every person sitting on the bus had scored sweepstakes points that led to a second-place finish. The momentum was obvious during the week of practice and culminated in our placings. I’m excited to head into the last month of season with a very solid group of competitors.”

The next tournament will be held in Frenchtown on Jan. 11.

Policy Debate

3. Emma Stephens and Shyane Williams, Columbia Falls

5. Calie Jo Johnson and Tre Finley, Columbia Falls

6. Finley Sundberg and Ava Foley, Columbia Falls

7. Jordan Hayes and Grayson Butler, Whitefish

8. Gavin Carmichael and McKenna Ferril, Whitefish

Public Forum Debate

2. Lara Erickson & Laney Conger, Columbia Falls

3. Stacia Tremper and Sophie Tabor, Whitefish

Lincoln-Douglas Debate

3. Eddie Chisholm, Columbia Falls

5. Raphe Salmon, Columbia Falls

6. Luca Welle, Whitefish

7. Elizabeth Campbell, Whitefish

Original Oratory

1. Aidan Reid, Whitefish

2. Eden Scrafford, Whitefish

Impromptu Speaking

2. Maggie McKeon, Columbia Falls

3. Danika Tintzman, Whitefish

4. Sam Lovering, Columbia Falls

5. Chloe Coberley, Columbia Falls

6. Adrienne Healy, Whitefish

Extemporaneous Speaking

1. Maggie McKeon, Columbia Falls

3. Abigail Bowden, Whitefish

4. Sam Lovering, Columbia Falls

5. Aiden Judge, Columbia Falls

7. Bethany Barnes, Whitefish

Informative Speaking

1. Bethany Barnes, Whitefish

3. Paetra Cooke, Whitefish

5. Aiden Judge, Columbia Falls

Humorous Interpretation

1. Griffin Conger, Columbia Falls

4. Isaac Adams, Columbia Falls

Dramatic Interpretation

1. Lucy Schindler, Whitefish

2. Griffin Conger, Columbia Falls

3. Isaac Adams, Columbia Falls

4. Gabby Pickert, Whitefish

6. Chloe Coberley, Columbia Falls

7. Logan Mercer, Whitefish

Memorized Public Address

1. Suzanna Rozalez, Columbia Falls

2. Julia Sowerwine, Columbia Falls

3. Danika Tintzman, Whitefish

4. Grace Benkelman, Whitefish

6. Lidda Peterson, Columbia Falls

7. Rachel Bowland, Whitefish

8. Siri Erickson, Columbia Falls