Glacier High School speech and debate rolled to a first-place finish in Class AA in the first tournament of the 2026-27 season, amassing 304.5 points overall.  

Flathead High School secured second place, scoring 123.5 total points, followed by Missoula Hellgate in third with 115.5 points. 

The Glacier team was led by first-place finishers in eight events at the Saturday tournament in Missoula. Individual winners were Hazel Zlogar and Mariella Surdock in Novice Policy Debate; Jubal Wirth in Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate; Huzhao Miele and Griffin Ingersoll in Public Forum Debate; Kendall Dolan in Impromptu Speaking; Daniel Cole in Program Oral Interpretation and Memorized Public Address; Hilda Weber and Autumn Bashara in Duo Interpretation and Bashara in Dramatic Interpretation.   

"Our team depth really shined today. With nearly 130 students, we had no problem filling all the events, and that really was the difference," Glacier head coach Greg Adkins said. "I am especially encouraged by the students who made finals, especially all of our top three finishers and champions." 

Flathead had two individual winners, Teyvia Davis in Legislative Debate and Logan Yuasa-Green in Extemporaneous Speaking, with head coach Kelli Rosenquist saying she was proud of the team's overall performance with three new varsity coaches and multiple team members marking their first competitive season. 

"Legislative Debate led the way, closing out the top two by a wide margin under first-year coach B Poitra," head coach Kelli Rosenquist said.  

"Senior Logan Yuasa Green won Impromptu after a highly competitive bracket, building on a junior season in which he qualified for nationals in Congressional Debate," she added. 

IN CLASS A, B and C, Columbia Falls and Whitefish high schools placed second and third, earning 45.5 and 40 points, respectively. Hamilton High School took first with 47.5 points. 

Columbia Falls head coach Dawn Wheeler also noted the competition was a first for all but 10 returning competitors. 

"Tournaments are an exercise of stamina and presence and I was proud of all of our team as they navigated the rounds.  We are a young team and our kids did a great job staying poised throughout the day," Wheeler said. 

Flathead Valley high schools also closed out the top eight placements in Memorized Public Address. 

The following are local individual results.

Varsity Policy Debate 

2. Lillie Groom and Kyra Russell, Glacier 

3. Cohen Gates and Sage Delaloye, Whitefish 

4. Mikayla King and Cayden Porter, Flathead 

5. Megan Day and Lily Aveson, Columbia Falls 

7. Brooklynn Bowen and Trey Holcomb, Flathead 

8. Bryson Wakefield and Ben Boar, Glacier 

Novice Policy Debate  

1. Hazel Zlogar and Mariella Surdock, Glacier 

2. Conner Fennessey and Adam Wisniewski, Glacier 

4. Carter Dolan and Garrett Keim, Glacier 

5. Heather Barthel and Calder Smith, Columbia Falls 

6. Katie Valentine and Ruger Wiersma, Glacier 

7. Bo Rundle and Kayvis Kubai, Flathead 

8. Caralina Henry and Madelyn Lee, Glacier 

Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate  

1. Jubal Wirth, Glacier 

2. Josie Bridwell, Glacier 

4. Spencer Pinzencham, Glacier 

5. Maddison Malley, Glacier 

8. Abby Danielson, Glacier 

Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate  

2. Hailey Fiala, Glacier 

4. August Smith, Glacier 

5. Noah Elliott, Glacier 

7. Lilah Wellemeyer, Glacier 

Public Forum Debate  

1. Huzhao Miele and Griffin Ingersoll, Glacier 

2. Keegan West and Josie Morrison, Flathead 

5. Mavery Fauth and Olivia Kufa, Glacier 

6. Asher Stanfield and Anna Stanfield, Glacier 

8. Brennen Anderson and August Koon, Glacier 

Legislative Debate  

1. Teyvia Davis, Flathead 

2. Vayda Kauffman, Flathead 

4. Nola Terman, Glacier 

6. Peyton McCoy, Glacier 

8. Roane Wiersma, Glacier

Extemporaneous Speaking 

1. Logan Yuasa-Green, Flathead 

5. Mason Loeffler, Whitefish 

7. Jonah Sphuler, Glacier 

8. Avery Bender, Glacier 

Impromptu Speaking 

1. Kendall Dolan, Glacier 

3. Avery Bender, Glacier 

5. Abby Lawhead, Columbia Falls 

6. Lauren Pittman, Glacier 

7. Naemi Creighton, Glacier 

8. Josie Ekholt, Columbia Falls 

Duo Interpretation  

1. Hilda Weber and Autumn Bashara, Glacier 

3. Jayden Astley and Boston Jackson, Flathead 

4. Olivia Close and Micah Butler, Bigfork 

5. Christina Eddins and Ethan Harmon, Glacier 

6. Bridget Reed and Trevor Hammer, Glacier 

7. Adison Elie and Scarlett Johnson, Glacier 

8. Allycyn Palmer and Emma Wilcox, Columbia Falls 

Humorous Interpretation  

1. Brody Henion, Bigfork 

2. Jayden Astley, Flathead 

3. Kory Moran, Columbia Falls 

4. Bridget Reed, Glacier 

6. Trevor Hammer, Glacier 

7. Ethan Harmon, Glacier 

Dramatic Interpretation  

1. Autumn Bashara, Glacier 

2. Sophya Allred, Glacier 

4. Cassidy Krack, Whitefish

5. Lincoln McElwain, Flathead

6. Charlie Adamson, Flathead

7. Lynne Beisel, Flathead

8. Hilda Weber, Glacier 

Program Oral Interpretation 

1. Daniel Cole, Glacier

2. Kory Moran, Columbia Falls 

3. Rylee Wood, Bigfork 

4. Sophya Allred, Glacier

5. Kyla Turley, Glacier

6. Payton Holtz, Glacier

7. Donna Diaz, Ronan

8. Kylee Pesola, Flathead

Original Oratory

3. Jacob Braach, Flathead

4. Kendall Dolan, Glacier

6. Lauren Pittman, Glacier

7. Vivian Trieweiler-Schmidt, Whitefish 

Informative Speaking  

6. Claire Timm, Flathead

7. Emma Wilcox, Columbia Falls

8. Colton Engeland, Flathead

Memorized Public Address

1. Daniel Cole, Glacier

2. Mason Loeffler, Whitefish

3. Myla Lamson, Glacier

4. Josie Ekholt, Columbia Falls

5. Jonah Sphuler, Glacier

6. Parker Scherer, Glacier

7. Adison Elie, Glacier

8. Annabelle Church, Glacier 

Reporter Hilary Matheson can be reached at 406-758-4431 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support