The Glacier High School speech and debate team earned its first win of the 2024-25 season over the weekend at the Kalispell Kickoff. 

Glacier defeated crosstown rival and defending Class AA state champion Flathead High School with a score of 277 overall points. Flathead took second place with 223.5 overall points. Missoula Hellgate placed third. 

In Class A, B and C, Columbia Falls High School speech and debate edged out Whitefish High School with an 82.5 to 77-point victory led by Carson Settles and Reed Wollenzien's first-place finish in Duo Interpretation. Overall, the two teams ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, among all competing schools. Frenchtown took third place. 

Eighteen teams from 16 schools across Northwest and Southwest Montana competed in the tournament hosted by Flathead. 

Glacier’s event champions were Kaylin Stein in Humorous Interpretation, Josh Lee and Owen Carpenter in Varsity Policy Debate, Emmery Schmidt in Legislative Debate and Lillie Groom and Kyra Russell in Novice Policy Debate.  

Adkins said it was the performances of other teammates who propelled the team to the top. 

“We had surprisingly strong balance across events, which is crucial for winning team sweepstakes in this activity. Our returning veterans had some standout performances, but the depth from our newcomers and JV members stepping up truly made the difference,” Glacier head coach Greg Adkins said. 

Three Flathead competitors won their events including Blake Stowe and Brett Chivers in Novice Public Forum Debate, Collin Olson in Dramatic Interpretation and Ada Milner in Program Oral Interpretation.  

“The highlight for the Flathead team was coach Kelli Rosenquist’s Novice Public Forum squad closing out the top five spots in the event,” Flathead head coach Shannon O’Donnell said. 

“It was a well-earned win for the Glacier team. Their kids were really sharp and prepared this weekend. They simply outperformed us,” she added. 

O’Donnell and Adkins expressed gratitude to the community for serving as volunteer judges. 

“[A] huge thanks to the community for once again filling the hundreds of rounds of judging necessary to successfully host a tournament. We couldn’t do it without the support of the people of this valley, and we are truly thankful for the continued support each year,” O’Donnell said. 

Columbia Falls will host the next local speech and debate tournament Nov. 9 with the first round starting at 8 a.m. An awards ceremony is set for 7 p.m. in the Columbia Falls Junior High gym. Volunteer judges are still needed. People interested in judging may email head coach Dawn Roe at d_roe@cfmtschools.net.

The following are the results of the tournament for local individuals. 

Varsity Policy Debate 

1. Josh Lee and Owen Carpenter, Glacier 

2. Boone Shanks and Lauren Rogers, Columbia Falls 

3. Bjorn Bungener and Jake Dunker, Whitefish 

4. Vanna Fortune and Ethan Hunsaker, Whitefish 

6. Vincent Lam and David Moody, Flathead 

Novice Policy Debate 

1. Lillie Groom and Kyra Russell, Glacier 

2. Z Belt and Bryson Wakefield, Glacier 

3. Cohen Gates and Andrew Gibb, Whitefish 

4. Will DeNike and Bryce Rands, Glacier 

5. Beau Weaver and Cheyanne Dear-Ruel, Columbia Falls 

Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate 

2. Arianna Romero, Glacier 

3. Hailey Fiala, Glacier 

4. Johan Axelsen, Flathead 

6. Anouk Lee, Flathead 

8. Layla Pate, Glacier 

Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate 

2. Maya Graham, Flathead 

3. Anya Denmark, Glacier 

8. Ariana Ramsay, Flathead 

Public Forum Debate 

2. Asher Stanfield and Jack Syverson, Glacier 

3. Kennady Garvin and Maya Kinkaid, Glacier 

6. Abigail O'Connell and Vikram Vatti, Flathead 

7. Jack Blodgett and Brett Pesola, Flathead 

Novice Public Forum Debate 

1. Blake Stowe and Brett Chivers, Flathead 

2. Hadden Lavilla and Thomas Dixon, Flathead 

3. Josie Morrison and Owen Nelson, Flathead 

4. Padmaja Vatti and Brooklynn Bowen, Flathead 

5. Maximilian Bonnet and Keegan West, Flathead 

6. Olivia Kufa and Lindsey Lemler, Glacier 

8. Oliver Casey and Huzhao Miele, Glacier 

Legislative Debate 

1. Emmery Schmidt, Glacier 

2. Brigham Schow, Flathead 

3. Kaylee Hampton, Flathead 

5. Mitchell Johnson, Flathead 

6. B Poitra, Flathead 

Extemporaneous Speaking 

2. Jake Milone, Flathead 

4. Atticus Cheman, Glacier 

5. Dalton Howser, Flathead 

7. Lincoln McElwain, Flathead 

8. David Losee, Whitefish 

Impromptu Speaking 

2. Dalton Howser, Flathead 

4. Fenton Liebe-Cohen, Flathead 

5. Jake Milone, Flathead 

6. Atticus Cheman, Glacier 

8. Astir Pulsifer, Whitefish 

Duo Interpretation 

1. Carson Settles and Reed Wollenzien, Columbia Falls 

2. Collin Olson and Jayden Pesola, Flathead 

3. Scarlet Burke and Unity Loveless, Whitefish 

4. Olivia Close and Jake Baldi, Bigfork 

5. Claire Ennis and Daniel Cole, Glacier 

6. Fallon Maas and Maxwell Jones, Flathead 

7. Noel Cantrell and Myla Lamson, Glacier 

8. Layna Astley and Lindy Porter, Flathead 

Humorous Interpretation 

1. Kaylin Stein, Glacier 

2. Bridget Reed, Glacier 

3. Jayden Astley, Flathead 

4. Brett Pilon, Glacier 

6. Tia Marie Poor, Columbia Falls 

7. Bayliss Cummings, Flathead 

8. Claire Ennis, Glacier 

Dramatic Interpretation 

1. Collin Olson, Flathead 

2. Kory Moran, Columbia Falls 

3. Noel Cantrell, Glacier 

5. Jolee Pitts, Flathead 

6. Hayden Holloway, Glacier 

7. Megan Mikelson, Glacier 

8. Xander Becker, Polson 

Program Oral Interpretation 

1. Ada Milner, Flathead 

2. Calvin Casey, Glacier 

3. Lindy Porter, Flathead 

4. Anya Rountree, Glacier 

5. Ellie Fiala, Glacier 

6. Natalie Young, Flathead 

7. Jacob Braach, Flathead 

8. Ili Hoerth, Glacier 

Original Oratory 

2. Myla Lamson, Glacier 

3. Jacob Braach, Flathead 

4. Mac Colley, Glacier 

8. Yris Hadziomerovic, Glacier 

Informative Speaking 

2. Scarlet Burke, Whitefish 

4. Claire Timm, Flathead 

5. Ciello Salle, Glacier 

7. Raya Gronley, Glacier 

Memorized Public Address 

1. Unity Loveless, Whitefish 

2. Eleanor Smiley, Columbia Falls 

3. Anya Rountree, Glacier 

4. Ellie Fiala, Glacier 

5. Raya Gronley, Glacier 

6. Merell Cooley, Columbia Falls 

7. Calvin Casey, Glacier