The Bigfork High School speech and debate team will head into their third meet of the season Nov. 23 in Columbia Falls, after finishing second in the Class B division at both the Kalispell Kickoff and Ronan’s Gale Patrick Miller Invitational earlier this year. This year, the team welcomes 14 new students across the four grade levels, including six freshmen. While the speech and debate season is just getting started, Head Coach Charles Appleby has already identified a few standout performers to watch — seniors Anton Young and Elyse Pendlay in Policy Debate, Ben Keller in Impromptu Speaking and Maya Hartig in Memorized Public Address.

Last season, Bigfork won the divisional tournament for the 10th straight season and took home fourth in the state meet. In the three preceding years, the team placed second at state, behind Loyola Sacred Heart, which is on a 36-year state championship winning streak — the longest stretch for any high school activity in the nation, according to Appleby.

This year, Bigfork will host the Class B-C Speech and Drama Tournament on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

“It is a huge event and we are so looking forward to welcoming schools from all over the state,” Appleby wrote.

Speech and debate judges are needed for both days of the event and no experience is necessary. To learn more, contact Appleby at (406) 420-5396. ¦