Wildcats talk way to fifth title

If there was ever any doubt that the Columbia Falls speech and debate team wasn't the best in the state, that doubt was squashed Saturday when the Wildcats won their fifth straight Class A state championship.

Columbia Falls beat out Billings Central, 159 to 132 points Saturday at the state tournament in Corvallis. Whitefish finished in third with 89 points.

The win came down to the final round of competition. Columbia Falls was able to come back from an early 60-point deficit to win.

Billings Central brought 29 competitors into the final round of competition, while Columbia Falls had just 19. Billings also outscored the Wildcats in debate by 66 to 10, but in every other event Columbia Falls was able to beat Billings by a significant margin.

No Class A team has earned five consecutive state titles before.

"The coaches and kids are truly proud of that particular achievement," coach Mike Christensen said. "Along with going undefeated again this year, the seven divisional champions in the speech events and four individual state champions, this squad is the most decorated team I've coached during my time in Columbia Falls."

Senior Jon Riffey lead the Wildcats with two state titles in extemporaneous speaking and impromptu speaking. This was the first time competitors have been allowed to enter in two events, which makes Riffey the first double champion in school history.

"Jon's achievement was the more remarkable because of the level of competition he was up against, specifically from his teammates. In extemporaneous speaking, as was the case at divisionals, our kids swept the top three spots, something I've witnessed only twice before in the past 26 years as a coach," Christensen said. "Jon's teammates, Jesse Flickinger, who placed second, and Natalie Law, who placed third were outstanding throughout the tournament and two points separated first from third in extemporaneous. "Stephanie Christensen and Keri Potter also earned individual state titles. Christensen in original oratory and Potter in expository speaking.

"I need to compliment Stephanie and Keri on their accomplishment," he said. "Both young ladies were consistently outstanding throughout the year. Stephanie ends the year with more individual medals and sweeps points than any previous Wildcat speaker during my time here as a coach. She should truly be proud of that achievement."

Laura Burgess and Candy Ward-Shears along with Jon Riffey will graduate from the program as four-time State Champions.

"Candy's work at divisionals and state is that much more remarkable because she was dealing with illness and had lost her voice in finals at divisionals. She was still battling through that during state competition, and without her effort, the final result would have been much closer," Christensen said. "Ultimately, every point earned by each of the nineteen kids we had competing played an important role in the final outcome. Cailey Philmon, Kaitlin Barnes, Aaron and Phillip Gales and Kate Donner each added semi-final points or points in debate based on win/loss records that helped us achieve the team victory."

Christensen praised assistant coaches Tara Norick and Alyson Dorr for their part in the win.

"I can't think of anyone I'd rather go into a tournament with than these two remarkable women," he said. "Tara Norick earned the Northwest Divisional Coach of the Year award, and Alyson, whose work over the past seven years was deserving of recognition from her peers as well, are easily two of the top speech coaches in the state of Montana at any level. It's been my good fortune to have the opportunity to work with them."

Looking ahead to next year, Christensen said he'd like to see more students involved.

"Nothing would make our returning kids happier than if we could get some more students involved in speech and debate, so that with a little determination and some good fortune we might celebrate another one of these next year," he said.

Individual results from the state tournament are:

• Policy Debate - 7. Marissa Getts and Ariel Ramstad

• Expository Speaking - 1. Keri Potter, 2. Jennifer Jurva

• Memorized Public Address - 2. Melissa Carr, 3. Stephanie Christensen

• Humorous Oral Interpretation - 3. Laura Burgess, 5. Hannah Brinton, 6. Candance Ward-Shears

• Serious Oral Interpretation - 3. Candance Ward-Shears, 4. Ashley Carlson

• Original Oratory - 1. Stephanie Christensen, 3. Laura Burgess, 7. Shiloh Knudsen

• Impromptu Speaking - 1. Jon Riffey, 3. Jesse Flickinger

• Extemporaneous Speaking - 1. Jon Riffey, 2. Jesse Flickinger, 3. Natalie Law