The Whitefish Bulldog speech and debate team handily beat out rival Columbia Falls over the weekend to clinch the Class A state championship.

Whitefish came out of the tournament earning 200 sweepstakes points over Columbia Falls with 167. Laurel earned third place with 112 points.

The Bulldogs victory breaks Columbia Falls’ winning streak of 15 years of state championships.

Though Whitefish has had several second place finishes in the last several years at the state tournament, the last time the team won a state championship was in 2005.

Coach Sara Mueller congratulated her team.

“Every state tournament comes down to mental toughness and bouncing back as there are just too many rounds for perfection, and this one seemed like an extreme example,” Mueller said. “The support this team gave to each other, even through personal disappointments, was inspiring.”

Two Bulldogs earned individual state championship titles in three categories. Senior Abigail Bowden earned first place in both extemporaneous and impromptu speaking. Junior Paetra Cooke earned first place in memorized public address.

“I could not have been more proud of the balanced effort we produced across the three days of competition,” Mueller said. “With every entry scoring points throughout the weekend, we were able to hold our own and keep ourselves in contention during the first two days, to give ourselves the chance we needed in the final rounds.”

Throughout the season, which has been held virtually with each team competing at their own school, Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Frenchtown have swapped places in earning the top three spots for sweepstakes points.

“I am so proud of my fellow coaching staffs at Columbia Falls, who we will always acknowledge as the powerhouse they’ve built, and other schools around the state who’ve made this season happen for the competitors in the most challenging of circumstances,” Mueller said.

Sweepstakes: 1. Whitefish (200), 2. Columbia Falls (167), 3. Laurel (112)

Policy Debate: 2. Danika Tintzman and Ali Hirsch, 5. Gavin Carmichael and Liam Lynch, 6. Bethany Barnes and Emma Trieweiler

Public Forum Debate: 3. Zoe Tremper and Addie Blackaby, 4. Stacia Tremper and Sophie Tabor

Extemporaneous: 1. Abigail Bowden, 4. Grayson Butler

Impromptu: 1. Abigail Bowden, 4. Adrienne Healy

Dramatic Interp: 2. Lucy Schindler, 7. Gabby Pickert

Original Oratory: 4. Paetra Cooke

Informative: 4. Adrienne Healy

Memorized Public Address: 1. Paetra Cooke, 2. Lucy Schindler