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Flathead High speech and debate takes first in Corvallis

HILARY MATHESON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 6 months AGO
by HILARY MATHESON
EDUCATION REPORTER Hilary Matheson covers education for the Daily Inter Lake. Her reporting focuses on schools, students, and the policies that shape public education across Northwest Montana. Matheson regularly reports on school boards, district decisions and issues affecting teachers and families. Her work examines how funding, enrollment and state policy influence local school systems. She helps readers understand how education decisions affect students and communities throughout the region. IMPACT: Hilary’s work provides transparency and insight into the schools that serve thousands of local families. | January 10, 2023 11:00 PM

The Flathead High School speech and debate team placed first in Corvallis over the weekend with 298 overall points.

Twenty schools competed, including eight AA schools. Billings West placed second with 194 points, and Missoula Hellgate placed third with 134 points. Among Class A schools, Columbia Falls took first with 135 points, Whitefish, second with 50 points. Corvallis placed third with 30 points.

FHS won seven events and closed out the top three spots in Memorized Public Address.

“The highlight of the weekend was watching our kids come together as a team,” Flathead head coach Shannon O’Donnell said. “They worked hard, supported each other, and scored points in every event we competed in. We're also seeing improvement in our young debaters, which is exciting as we head into the final tournaments [of] the season.”

Following are individual local results.

Extemporaneous Speaking

2 Rachael Ottman, Flathead

4 Clara Jones, Flathead

Impromptu Speaking

1 Rachel Ottman, Flathead

2 Clara Jones, Flathead

Memorized Public Address

1 Kenna Anderson, Flathead

2 Ada Milner, Flathead

3 Nina Sullivan, Flathead

6 Emma Maddux, Columbia Falls

8 Merrell Cooley, Columbia Falls

Program Oral Interpretation

1 Bethany Nairn, Flathead

2 Tag Schow, Flathead

4 Ada Milner, Flathead

Informative Speaking

1 Carson Settles, Columbia Falls

3 Hailey Hendrickson, Flathead

6 Ruby Davis, Columbia Falls

8 Scarlet Burke, Whitefish

Original Oratory

4 Luke Banks, Flathead

6 Braelynn Anderson, Flathead

8 Lauren Rossi, Whitefish

Dramatic Interpretation

1 Ryan Tiet, Flathead

3 Tehya Anderson, Flathead

Humorous Interpretation

3 Adina Lockwood, Flathead

4 Jasmine Anderson, Flathead

Duo Interpretation

1 Collin Olson and Adina Lockwood, Flathead

2 Jasmine Anderson and Tag Schow, Flathead

5 Reed Wollenzein & Carson Settles, Columbia Falls

7 Zack Tillman and Lucas Counts, Columbia Falls

8 Cole Pickert and Jackson Schindler, Whitefish

Spontaneous Oral Interpretation

1 Grant Westover, Flathead

Legislative Debate

1 Kaylee Hampton, Flathead

4 Aiden DeLong, Flathead

Lincoln-Douglas Debate

1 Eddie Chisholm, Columbia Falls

2 Brody Turner, Flathead

6 Maya Graham, Flathead

Public Forum Debate

5 Thomas Konopka and Brett Pesola, Flathead

4 Addie Blackaby and Zoe Tremper, Whitefish

8 Rachel Rowles and Jayce McDonald, Whitefish

Policy Debate

1 Ava Minns-Prezeau and Celestine Young, Columbia Falls

2 Boone Shanks and Lauren Rogers, Columbia Falls

7 Alex Losee and Vana Fortune, Whitefish

This article was updated Jan. 11 with the addition of Columbia Falls High School results.

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