Bigfork newcomers do well at home speech, debate, drama meet

Bigfork Eagle

Bigfork High School's speech, debate and drama meet went smoothly this year, as 13 teams competed November 3 in Bigfork. Missoula Loyola won the team speech portion and Corvallis took top honors in drama. Bigfork's success was hit and miss.

Kelsey Smith, after winning her first round, had to leave due to illness. Sophomore Kayla Carlson stepped up in her first meet to take fourth place in memorized public address. Senior Tari Skye also made finals and placed sixth in solo oral interp. As for the drama team, it did very well, placing fourth as a team. Bigfork simply didn't have the numbers that the other schools had.

Brianna Sefcak won serious solo, and Kendra Brook took second in humorous solo. Freshman Gwen Fratt took fifth in humorous solo and junior Jerry Gaiser and freshman Jacob Sefcak placed second in humorous duo.

While one of the debaters took ill as well, Ernie Cottle narrowly missed the semi-finals in his first attempt. Freshman Gavyn Duthie was given high marks for his speaking ability in debate as well.

Overall it was bittersweet for the Bigfork team, as it would like to have shown off the whole new team, but the stomach flu really demolished the team, according to coach Charlie Appleby.

"It was sweet, though, to see how well our newcomers, that made it, did," Appleby said. "Some just missed finals and others made great strides in their first meet. We are looking forward to Polson this weekend."