Whitefish speakers take first in this year's only home tourney

In what was truly a team effort, 25 of 26 Whitefish High School speech and debate competitors placed in their events Saturday at the Whitefish Invitational tournament to eke out a 161-150 point win over cross-town rival Columbia Falls. Polson placed third with 39 points.

The Bulldogs won three individual titles in extemporaneous speaking (Jacob Fern), varsity Lincoln-Douglas debate (Shane Hanson) and novice Lincoln-Douglas debate (Owen Goble).

Whitefish also scored six second-, five third- and three fourth-place finishes.

"This was likely a preview of what we might expect at the divisional tournament in Libby, Jan. 21," said Whitefish head coach Gil Jordan. "Columbia Falls is very strong in many speech events and has some good debaters as well."

"It shows us we will need to stay very focused and continue to improve if we are to remain competitive at the end of the season when it counts for qualifying for state," Jordan said. "We've got a lot of talent on this year's team, but we need to remember that being defending state champions does not mean we can coast on past accomplishments."

Whitefish High School speech and debate results from Saturday's tournament are: Jacob Fern, first, and Brielle Menegazzi third, extemporaneous speaking; Shane Hanson, first, Trevor Bennett, third, Matt Gwiazdon, fourth, Jake deNeui, sixth, and Jack Quatman seventh, varsity Lincoln-Douglas debate; Owen Goble, first, Ellen Scheffer, second, Matt McBride, third, and Matt Denny, fifth, novice Lincoln-Douglas debate; Chausea Jacobson and Erica Calys, second, Ian McKay and Andy Hudak, fourth, and Holly Cullen and Emily Jones, sixth, varsity team debate; Kearstin Jacobson, second, and Cameron Fauth, seventh, impromptu speaking; LeAnn Books, second, original oratory; Annie Rottenbiller, second, serious oral interpretation; Noelle Niles, second, memorized public address; Emilee Christensen, third, expository speaking; Michael Sandahl, third, and Evan Harris, eighth, humorous oral interpretation.