Whitefish High School had the last word this season, bringing home the Class A state title by defeating the defending state champion team, Columbia Falls High School, over the weekend.  

It was another tight battle between the two Class A teams. Whitefish earned the state title by a slim margin with an overall score of 255 points. Runner-up, Columbia Falls, scored 250 points. Frenchtown placed third with 84 points.  

Leading Whitefish were four individual state champions Jake Dunker and Bjorn Bungener in Policy Debate, David Losee in Extemporaneous Speaking and Unity Loveless in Memorized Public Address.  

“With a mixed team of experienced and rookie competitors, we showed the resilience and dedication necessary to overcome challenges and the loss at divisionals to bring home a state championship," said Whitefish assistant coach Jason Brown.  

Whitefish head coach Sara Mueller also noted how her team kept the energy going throughout a challenging season.  

“I am awed by how this group persevered throughout an up and down season, and we are certainly proud of this championship for Whitefish,” she said. “We must also give thanks and congratulations to our friends at Columbia Falls, who have built and continued a tradition of excellence for many years. Their strength pushes us to be better.” 

Columbia Falls head coach Dawn Roe anticipated state to be neck-in-neck. 

“The Columbia Falls and Whitefish teams have had close finishes all season and it was expected that the state tournament would be no different. The competitors from both schools put everything they had into the weekend and concluded their regular season with a photo finish,” Roe said. 

“Whitefish worked hard for the win so the moment was bittersweet for most of our competitors. The teams have a great working relationship so while they of course would have loved the State trophy, it was nice to see it stay with our friends in our Northwest Division,” she added. 

The following are local individual results. 

Policy Debate   

1. Jake Dunker and Bjorn Bungener, Whitefish  

2. Vana Fortune and Ethan Hunsaker, Whitefish

3. Lauren Rogers and Boone Shanks, Columbia Falls 

5. Cheyanne Dear-Ruel and Loren Connors, Columbia Falls 

6. Logan Emerson and Kendal Moultray, Columbia Falls 

7. Cohen Gates and Andrew Gibbs, Whitefish  

Public Forum Debate  

2. Quinn Caudle & Kaya Carlburg, Columbia Falls 

3. Marcus Mercer and Gracie Sliman, Whitefish  

4. Malakai Shaw and Chloe Kinsella, Columbia Falls 

5. Brynn McDonald and Solvei Gunderson, Whitefish  

7. Avery McPherson and Shailey Green, Whitefish  

Lincoln-Douglas Debate 

3. Celestine Young, Columbia Falls 

7. Melody McNally, Columbia Falls

Extemporaneous Speaking  

1. David Losee, Whitefish  

2. Mason Loeffler, Whitefish  

7. Selah Heinzen, Columbia Falls 

8. Sage Petioni, Columbia Falls 

Impromptu Speaking  

2. Iona Sarraille, Whitefish  

3. Eleanor Smiley, Columbia Falls 

4. Astir Pulsifer, Whitefish  

Memorized Public Address  

1. Unity Loveless, Whitefish  

2. Merell Cooley, Columbia Falls 

3. Mason Loeffler, Whitefish  

5. Eleanor Smiley, Columbia Falls 

7. Kira Shanks, Columbia Falls 

Original Oratory  

3. Astir Pulsifer, Whitefish  

8. Lizzy Holien, Whitefish  

Informative Speaking  

4. Scarlet Burke, Whitefish  

Humorous Interpretation  

2. Lillian Nelson, Whitefish  

3. Tia Marie Poor, Columbia Falls 

5. Reed Wollenzien, Columbia Falls 

Dramatic Interpretation 

2. Kory Moran, Columbia Falls 

5. Tia Marie Poor, Columbia Falls 

Duo Interpretation  

2. Carson Settles and Reed Wollenzien, Columbia Falls 

4. Scarlet Burke and Unity Loveless, Whitefish 

5. Coy Moss and Lillian Nelson, Whitefish

6. Lizzy Holien and Avery Sorensen, Whitefish

7. Brandon Widhalm and Kory Moran, Columbia Falls 

Program Oral Interpretation  

1. Carson Settles, Columbia Falls 

2. Iona Sarraille, Whitefish

4. Kira Shanks, Columbia Falls 

6. Emma Wilcox, Columbia Falls 

7. Maren Cromie, Whitefish  

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.

    The Columbia Falls High School speech and debate team finished second at the state tournament in Laurel. (Photo provided by Dawn Roe)