Benkelman earns first at state speech meet

Sophomore Sam Benkelman earned a state championship medal in expository speaking, leading the Bulldogs at the Class A Speech, Debate and Drama Tournament Saturday in Hamilton.

Whitefish took sixth place out of 21 teams in team sweepstakes points for speech.

“It was a real team effort as multiple students placed bringing in team sweepstakes points,” said coach Gary Carmichael.  

Team captain Sloan Ellis earned third in original oratory. Elsa Dodds took fourth in extemporaneous speaking.

Abigail Belcher and Hunter Cripe each earned sixth-place finishes in extemporaneous and serious oral interpretation, respectively.

The team of Madison Grady and Jordan Reese took eighth in policy debate.

Several Whitefish competitors made it into the semifinal round, including Belcher in humorous oral interpretation, Makkie Haller in extemporaneous and humorous oral interpretation, and Rachael Seymour in memorized public address.

Columbia Falls earned first in team points to garner the school’s ninth straight state championship. Hamilton and Stevensville rounded out the top three.