It was a fight to the finish in Butte this weekend with Flathead High School speech and debate team having the last word. Flathead prevailed by a difference of 6.5 points.  

Overall, Flathead scored 140 points for the win.  

The difference between second and third place was even closer, with Bozeman slipping past Glacier High School by a mere 1.5 points, finishing in second place with 133.5 overall points to Glacier’s 132.  

"This weekend's finish was a nail biter, and the win could easily have gone to any one of the top three schools. We are thrilled with the result, but it proves that the state championship is up for grabs this year," Flathead head coach Shannon O’Donnell said. 

Adkins praised his team's determination to finish strong.  

"What I am most proud of is how we battled back on Saturday. After the results on Friday night, it felt like we had zero chance to compete for the sweepstakes title, and our kids battled back on Saturday morning," he said.    

Next up is the season finale Class AA State Championships in Bozeman. 

“With all 16 AA schools competing, we could have one of the closest finishes at the state tournament in Bozeman on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1," Glacier head coach Greg Adkins said.  “The competition was intense. " 

The following are local results: 

Varsity Policy Debate 

4. Owen Carpenter and Josh Lee, Glacier 

8. Lillie Groom and Kyra Russell, Glacier 

Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate 

3. Hailey Fiala, Glacier 

Public Forum Debate 

1. Abigail O'Connell and Vikram Vatti, Flathead 

3. Jack Syverson and Asher Stanfield, Glacier 

4. Maya Kinkaid and Kennady Garvin, Glacier 

5. Jack Blodgett and Brett Pesola, Flathead 

6. Keegan West and Sarah Loran, Flathead 

Legislative Debate 

1. Kaylee Hampton, Flathead 

3. B. Poitra, Flathead 

7. Alyssa Conrad, Glacier 

Extemporaneous Speaking 

1. Fenton Liebe-Cohen, Flathead 

2. Jake Milone, Flathead 

Impromptu  Speaking

3. Fenton Liebe-Cohen, Flathead 

5. Jake Milone, Flathead 

6. Autumn Bashara, Glacier 

Duo Interpretation 

1. Ayden Mintz and Zaiden Stout, Glacier 

5. Kaylin Stein and Sophie Johnson, Glacier 

7. Noel Cantrell and Myla Lamson, Glacier 

8. Fallon Maas and Maxwell Jones, Flathead 

Humorous Interpretation 

4. Eli Sanderson Strutz, Glacier 

5. Kaylin Stein, Glacier 

7. Maxwell Jones, Flathead 

Dramatic Interpretation 

1. Noel Cantrell, Glacier 

3. Megan Mikelson, Glacier 

8. Fallon Maas, Flathead 

Program Oral Interpretation 

1. Ada Milner, Flathead 

3. Anya Rountree, Glacier 

4. Bronson Willcut, Flathead 

5. Lindy Porter, Flathead 

6. Ili Hoerth, Glacier 

7. Jacob Braach, Flathead 

Original Oratory 

7. Claire Timm, Flathead 

Informative Speaking 

2. Layna Astley, Flathead 

7. Claire Timm, Flathead 

8. Eli Sanderson Strutz, Glacier 

Memorized Public Address 

2. Ada Milner, Flathead 

5. Anya Rountree, Glacier 

6. Calvin Casey, Glacier 

7. Ili Hoerth, Glacier 

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