Fifteen top speech and debate students talked their way to a spot on the national stage at the West District qualifying tournament Feb. 13-14 in Missoula.  

Hailing from Bigfork, Columbia Falls, Flathead and Glacier high schools, the students qualified to compete at the national tournament scheduled June 14-19 in Richmond, Virginia. Additionally, a selection process is underway to form a World Schools Debate team to represent the West District at nationals. 

The two-day qualifying tournament featured 17 high schools with Flathead bringing home the sweepstakes trophy and Glacier placing fourth followed by Whitefish in fifth.  

Individual performances also pushed Flathead to win the congress and speech sweepstakes trophies. Also in speech sweepstakes, Glacier and Bigfork placed second and third, respectively, and Columbia Falls came in fifth. In debate sweepstakes, Flathead and Glacier placed fourth and fifth, respectively.  

Students may only compete in one event at nationals, which is expected to draw about 7,000 competitors vying to be one of 42 champions, according to the National Speech and Debate Association, which organizes the tournament.  

Teams now begin fundraising to cover travel expenses to attend nationals. People interested in donating should contact the head coaches at the respective high schools.  

Following is a list of local individual results: 

Policy Debate  

4. Isabelle McKoy and Madhav Gautam, Glacier (second alternate)

5. Mikayla King and Cayden Porter, Flathead (third alternate)

7. Bjorn Bungener and Cohen Gates, Whitefish

8. Huzhao Miele and Aerin Todd, Glacier

Public Forum Debate

3. Dalton Howser and Garrison Burger, Flathead (first alternate)

4. Avery Sorensen and David Losee, Whitefish (second alternate)

5. Avery McPherson and Shailey Green, Whitefish (third alternate)

7. Trey Holcomb and Madelynn Danford-Komenda, Flathead

8. Unity Loveless and Scarlet Burke, Whitefish

Duo Interpretation

1. Layna Astley and Lincoln McElwain, Flathead (national qualifier)

2. Kaylin Stein and Sophie Johnson, Glacier (national qualifier)

3. Lillian Nelson and Cassidy Krack, Whitefish (first alternate)

5. Olivia Close and Jake Baldi, Bigfork (third alternate)

6. Cy Devlin and Madeline Pomeroy, Bigfork (fourth alternate)

Dramatic Interpretation

1. Kory Moran, Columbia Falls (national qualifier)

2. Alex Carmalt, Glacier (national qualifier)

3. Sophya Allred, Glacier (first alternate)

4. Tia Marie Poor, Columbia Falls (second alternate)

5. Lincoln McElwain, Flathead (third alternate)

7. Cassidy Krack, Whitefish (fifth alternate)

Humorous Interpretation

1. Brody Henion, Bigfork (national qualifier)

3. Kolbe Ghekiere, Flathead (first alternate)

5. Kaylin Stein, Glacier (third alternate)

6. Lillian Nelson, Whitefish (fourth alternate)

7. Jake Baldi, Bigfork (fifth alternate)

Program Oral Interpretation

1. Layna Astley, Flathead (vacated to compete in Duo Interpretation)

2. Micah Butler, Bigfork, (national qualifier)

3. Bronson Willcut, Flathead (national qualifier)

4. Jacob Braach, Flathead (first alternate)

5. Aiden Cubbage, Whitefish (second alternate)

6. Natalie Young, Flathead (third alternate)

7. Sophie Johnson, Glacier (fourth alternate)

Original Oratory

3. Kendall, Dolan, Glacier (national qualifier)

4. Madeline, Pomeroy, Bigfork (first alternate)

5. Jacob Braach, Flathead (second alternate)

8. Astir Pulsifer, Whitefish (fifth alternate)

Informative Speaking

2. Eleanor Smiley, Columbia Falls (national qualifier)

4. Olivia Close, Bigfork (national qualifier)

7. Adie Fedor, Flathead (third alternate)

8. Melody Hantz, Flathead (fourth alternate)

International Extemporaneous Speaking

1. Jake Milone, Flathead High School (national qualifier)

4. Jack Provo, Flathead (first alternate)

5. Mason Loeffler, Whitefish (second alternate)

6. Logan Covey, Whitefish (third alternate)

8. Avery Bender, Glacier (fifth alternate)

U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking

2. Fenton Liebe-Cohen, Flathead (national qualifier)

3. Jake Milone, Flathead (vacated to compete in International Extemporaneous Speaking)

4. Logan Covey, Whitefish (first alternate)

6. Erek Benson, Flathead (third alternate)

7. Mason Loeffler, Whitefish (fourth alternate)

Lincoln-Douglas Debate

4. Brooklynn Bowen, Flathead (national qualifier)

5. Joshua Lee, Glacier (second alternate)

Congressional Debate — House

1. Miles Flake, Flathead (national qualifier)

2. B. Poitra, Flathead (national qualifier)

5. Dalton Howser, Flathead (first alternate)

6. Logan Yuasa-Green, Flathead (second alternate)

8. Jonah Sphuler, Glacier (fourth alternate)

Congressional Debate — Senate

3. Teyvia Davis, Flathead (first alternate)

8. Charlie Adamson, Flathead

Big Questions Debate

7. Hailey, Fiala, Glacier (fifth alternate)