Speakers take Northwest A divisional crown
The Columbia Falls speech and debate team took first place honors at the divisional tournament in Polson on Jan. 19.
The Wildcats had first-place finishes from Kaitlin Barnes, Alex Damon, Blake Ladenburg, Mason Gedlaman, Meredith Stolte and Baylee Brinton in a dominating performance as the team racked up 211 points to second-place Polson’s 61.
“This group has a very strong work ethic and team focus,” coach Tara Norick said. “I’m impressed with each member of our state team and how committed they are to personal success as well as team success.”
The Cats qualified 29 entries out of a possible 30 for the state tournament on Jan. 25-26 in Havre, Norick noted. This week, the team will hone its craft before heading to Havre.
“Every year competing at state is a different dynamic, the team is different and the competition is different,” Norick said. “We know there’s strong competition in the southwest from Hamilton and in the east from Billings Central, but the Columbia Falls team is really working towards its eighth-straight Class A championship.”
The Cats lost their first meet in years against Hamilton one week prior to the divisional meet but they were missing some key members, including junior Mason Gedlaman, who has been nabbing first-place finishes in impromptu speaking or humorous oral interpretation all season long.
Policy debate
2nd - Erick Franklund and Colter Norick
3rd - Mara Barnes and Monique Schoeck
4th - Emily Getts and Maddie Mantell
Lincoln-Douglas debate
1st - Kaitlin Barnes
3rd - Allison Foust
5th - Ada Brooks
Humorous interpretation of literature
1st - Mason Gedlaman
2nd - Lexi Corbett
3rd - Jenna Smith
Extemporaneous speaking
2nd - Blake Ladenburg
3rd - Cody Phillips
5th - Mary Gross
Memorized public address
1st - Alex Damon
2nd - Breanna Friar
3rd - Garrett Role
Impromptu speaking
1st - Blake Ladenburg
3rd - Mason Gedlaman
7th - Henry Chisholm
Serious interpretation
of literature
2nd - Meredith Stolte
4th - Bailey Duke
6th - Britney Cotton
Original oratory
1st - Meredith Stolte
2nd - Mary Gross
3rd - Casey Shea
Expository speaking
1st - Baylee Brinton
2nd - Yeo Chung
3rd - Mariah Walker