Mazur, Danczyk, Schiff take first at state

Seniors Joe Mazur, Matt Danczyk and Tyler Schiff walked away from the State Class A Speech, Debate and Drama Tournament as state champions. The Bulldog team finished third behind Columbia Falls and Billings Central at the meet held in Corvallis, which included 21 schools.

Whitefish does not field a drama team but "dramatic" best describes the events in the week leading up to the state tournament. Soon after the divisional tournament, where Mazur and senior Jack Hyer took first in policy debate, it was learned that Hyer would not be able to compete at state.

This threw the debate side of the Whitefish team into turmoil since Mazur, the two-time state champ, would not be able to compete without a partner. However, after much strategizing and soul searching, it was decided to break up the policy debate team of Danczyk and sophomore Carl Kohnstamm, which finished fourth at divisionals, to form the Mazur/Danczyk team.

Senior Derek Janni, who took fifth at divisionals in Lincoln-Douglas debate, joined Kohnstamm to form the policy debate team that took eighth place at state.

This reorganization was risky since Janni was asked to get up to speed in a completely new event, while Mazur and Danczyk, who had never debated together, needed to learn each other's debate styles quickly if they were to have a crack at the state title. A lot of issues needed ironing out right up to the last minute.

"It wasn't a done deal until the team was ready to leave on Thursday morning," head coach Pat McLaughlin said. "In the end it was their work, dedication and altruistic team spirit that energized the team."

It was Mazur's third straight state Class A championship in three years.

"Joe has accomplished a major feat," McLaughlin said. "He has earned three state policy debate championships with four different partners."

When asked if he had thought a third title was possible, Mazur said, "Considering the setbacks we encountered only one week before state, I seriously doubted that another championship was possible. Luckily, Matt was an excellent partner, and Derek and Carl both stepped up to build a very capable second debate team."

Tyler Schiff fought his way to the top of the heap in memorized public address to claim the gold in a stunning victory for Whitefish.

"He has come so close and finally this year, his dream came true," McLaughlin said. "Tyler is talented, hard working and a great role model with a contagious smile."

Two freshmen made strong showings, which softens the blow of 10 seniors graduating this year from the team. Out of nowhere, Emily Blumhardt earned strong enough scores in impromptu to send her into semi-finals and secure fifth place. Christa Konopatzke achieved the same surprise with excellent semi-final scores — her eighth-place finish as a freshman in original oratory 'set a high standard for other orators," McLaughlin said.

Other medal winners included — extemporaneous speaking, Haley Hill, fourth, and John Joern, fifth; humorous oral interpretation, Patrick Meehan, fifth; original oratory, Julie Peterman, fifth; expository, Tyler Schiff, fifth; and memorized public address, Haley Hill, eighth.