It was once again a battle for the top three spots between Frenchtown, Columbia Falls and Whitefish high school speech and debate teams at the Class A Western Divisional tournament over the weekend.

Among the 13 teams competing, Frenchtown took first while Columbia Falls placed second, led by divisional champions: Griffin Conger in Dramatic Interpretation and Original Oratory; Emma Stephens and Eddie Chisholm in Policy Debate; Raphe Salmon in Lincoln-Douglas Debate; Aiden Judge in Extemporaneous Speaking and Zack Tillman in Memorized Public Address.

Whitefish placed third overall.

Importantly, the divisional tournament determines who qualifies to compete at the Class A state tournament Friday and Saturday in Corvallis.

“We are excited to head into state in Corvallis with 18 qualifying slots,” Whitefish head coach Sara Mueller said. “I was proud of the persistence of the students across the long day of Divisionals. Although we have intense competition from Frenchtown and Columbia Falls, we have students in good positions to make runs for an individual state championship.

“We are also looking forward to a solid career end for a core group of seniors: Niko Hunter, Evan Barberis, Gavin Carmichael, Emma Trieweiler, Sydney Garcia, Adrienne Healy, Gabby Pickery, and Paetra Cooke.”

Following are local individual results of students qualifying to compete at state.

Public Forum Debate

1. May Rowles and Jayce McDonald, Whitefish
2. Quinn Caudle and Emma Wendt, Columbia Falls
3. Brayden Crawford and Aiden Rohn, Columbia Falls
4. Addie Blackaby and Zoe Tremper, Whitefish

Policy Debate

1. Emma Stephens and Eddie Chisholm, Columbia Falls
2. Kynsleigh Gould and Eleanor Hollingsworth, Columbia Falls
3. Niko Hunter and Evan Barberis, Whitefish
4. Gavin Carmichael and Alex Losee, Whitefish
5. Maggie Mercer and Myli Ridgeway, Whitefish

Also qualifying: Kai Lee Cole and Lauren Rogers, Columbia Falls

Lincoln-Douglas Debate

1. Raphe Salmon, Columbia Falls
2. Ella Walker, Whitefish
3. Charlotte Perkins, Whitefish

Also qualifying: Celestine Young, Columbia Falls

Alternate: Selah Heinzen, Columbia Falls

Extemporaneous Speaking

1. Aiden Judge, Columbia Falls
2. Emma Trieweiler, Whitefish
3. Sydney Garcia, Whitefish
4. Caleb Donsbach, Columbia Falls
5. Colton Little, Columbia Falls

Impromptu Speaking

1. Zoey Marzo, Whitefish

Also qualifying: Zena Bonds, Whitefish

Memorized Public Address

1. Zack Tillman, Columbia Falls
2. Aiden Judge, Columbia Falls

Also qualifying: Carson Settles, Columbia Falls

Original Oratory

1. Griffin Conger, Columbia Falls
2. Zoey Marzo, Whitefish

Informative Speaking

1. Adrienne Healy, Whitefish
2. Ruby Davis, Columbia Falls

Also qualifying: Carson Settles, Columbia Falls; Gabby Pickert and Paetra Cooke, both from Whitefish

Alternate: Emma Maddux, Columbia Falls

Humorous Interpretation

1. Carter Harvey, Columbia Falls
2. Emma Trieweiler, Whitefish
3. Ruby Davis, Columbia Falls

Also qualifying: Cole Pickert, Whitefish

Alternate: Reed Wollenzien, Columbia Falls

Dramatic Interpretation

1. Griffin Conger, Columbia Falls