Glacier High School took first place at the opening tournament of the season.

The team scored 253.5 overall points for the win at the Kalispell Kickoff this weekend in Kalispell. Fifteen teams in Class AA, A and B-C from around the state competed. Flathead placed second with 178.5 overall points. Columbia Falls placed fifth overall with 78 points. Among Class A teams only, Columbia Falls ranked first.

Individually, Glacier competitors swept the top five spots in Original Oratory. The Class AA team also shined in debate events with multiple winners.

“The Kickoff is always a great test to see where we stack up against the local teams early in the season, and I’m excited our team has taken we are not ‘rebuilding but reloading’ mentality,” Glacier Head Coach Greg Adkins said. “That being said, the season is a grind, and we have much work to do to create the balance and depth it takes to win a state championship in January.”

Flathead competitors excelled in short prep and interpretative events, capturing the top three spots in Extemporaneous Speaking and Program Oral Interpretation and the top four in Impromptu Speaking.

“Our team had some really great moments today, especially the Interp and short prep squads,” Head Coach Shannon O’Donnell said. “I see a lot of potential talent in our younger team members, and I look forward to watching it develop.”

Both teams combined, swept all eight spots in Dramatic Interpretation.

Columbia Falls had two individual champions in Policy Debate.

“The Kickoff tournament was exciting for our team as we had many first-time competitors breaking into semifinals and finals, including our first ever Duo team, against seasoned competitors from all classes who previously placed at state or were state champions in their events,” Columbia Falls Head Coach Dawn Roe said.

Adkins thanked the Kalispell community for supporting the annual tournament, which requires hundreds of volunteer judges.

“For years the Kalispell community has been so supportive and gracious with their time to make this tournament a staple to start the competitive season for teams in western Montana,” he said. Glacier will host the next Kalispell tournament, the Kalispell Invitational, Dec. 9-10. People interested in serving as volunteer judges may sign up at www.kalispellspeechdebate.org when registration opens.

Following are individual results.

Varsity Policy Debate

1. Kynsleigh Gould & Eleanor Hollingsworth, Columbia Falls
2. Owen Carpenter & Emma Ferguson-Reiner, Glacier
3. Boone Shanks & Lauren Rogers, Columbia Falls

Novice Policy Debate

1. Jakoby Isles & Josh Lee, Glacier
2. Ryker Parkman & Jacob Hallstrom, Flathead
3. Marlo Carpenter & Lillian Mountan, Glacier
4. Frankee Christianson & Taila Hines, Glacier

Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate

1. Anya Denmark, Glacier
2. Vaida Cole, Glacier
3. Brigham Schow, Flathead

Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate

1. Gaby Allred, Glacier
2. Eddie Chisholm, Columbia Falls
3. Kevin Fortin, Glacier
4. Aidan Walker, Glacier
5. Miles Sneeden, Glacier

Public Forum Debate

1. Alex Hudson and Amelia Remley, Glacier
2. Brayden Crawford and Aiden Rohn, Columbia Falls
3. Kennady Garvin & Jack Syverson, Glacier
4. Maya Graham & Vincent Lam, Flathead

Legislative Debate

1. Kenna Sandler, Glacier
2. Aiden DeLong, Flathead
3. Lukas Schubert, Glacier
4. Cadence Murcray, Glacier

Extemporaneous Speaking

1. Rylin Wilde, Flathead
2. Clara Jones, Flathead
3. Neila Lyngholm, Flathead
4. Rachel Ottman, Flathead
5. Rylee Glimm, Glacier

Impromptu Speaking

1. Neila Lyngholm, Flathead
2. Rylan Wilde, Flathead
3. Rachel Ottman, Flathead
4. Clara Jones, Flathead
5. Harrison Sanders, Glacier
6. Sophia Bourriague, Glacier

Duo Interpretation

1. Jasmine Anderson and Tag Schow, Flathead
2. Zach Tillman and Lucas Counts, Columbia Falls
3. Kenzie Nordness and Ethan Grant, Glacier
4. Quindy Gronley and Claire Schwaller, Glacier
5. Mac Adkins and Alden Lamson, Glacier
6. Connor Stickney and Siarah Holden, Flathead

Humorous Interpretation

1. Jasmine Anderson, Flathead
2. Meyer Fauth, Glacier
3. Claire Ennis, Glacier
4. Adina Lockwood, Flathead
5. Erik Kalvig, Glacier
6. Miles Kuss, Flathead
7. Kaylin Stein, Glacier
8. Annie Walsh, Whitefish

Dramatic Interpretation

1. Brenna Ernst, Glacier
2. Kaylin Stein, Glacier
3. Bethany Nairn, Flathead
4. Annabeth O'Shea, Glacier
5. Fallon Maas, Flathead
6. Noel Cantrell, Glacier
7. Ryan Tiet, Flathead
8. Cielo Sallee, Glacier

Program Oral Interpretation

1. Ada Milner, Flathead
2. Tag Schow, Flathead
3. Bethany Nairn, Flathead
4. Ellie Fiala, Glacier
5. Morgan Pitts, Glacier
6. Rayce Bosque, Glacier

Original Oratory

1. Ethan Grant, Glacier
2. Quindy Gronley, Glacier
3. Mac Adkins, Glacier
4. Maeve Kintzler, Glacier
5. Bella AuClaire, Glacier
6. Isabelle McKoy, Glacier

Informative Speaking

1. Lane McKoy, Glacier
2. Theron Wilton, Glacier
3. Carson Settles, Columbia Falls
4. Hailey Hendrickson, Flathead

Memorized Public Address

1. Anya Rountree, Glacier
2. Kenna Anderson, Flathead
3. Bella AuClaire, Glacier
4. Emma Maddux, Columbia Falls
5. Ellie Fiala, Glacier
6. Elley Albord, Flathead
7. Eleanor Smiley, Columbia Falls
8. Calvin Casey, Glacier

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or [email protected].