Cats cruise to victory in speech, debate
<p>Mason Gedlaman, center, leads the Columbia Falls High School speech and debate team in a "Pterodactyl" cheer prior to the start of the team's home meet last week. Gedlaman is flanked by Alex Daman, left, and Mariah Walker, right.</p>
The Columbia Falls speech and debate team dominated its home meet Jan. 5, outpacing Stevensville, 137-34. Hamilton took third with 24 points, and Loyola Scared Heart was first in Class B with 112 points.
The Wildcats had first-place finishes from Breanna Friar in memorized public address, Mason Gedlaman in humorous oral interpretation and in impromptu speaking, Baylee Brinton in expository and Meredith Stolte in original oratory.
“We had fantastic support from the community with local supporters filling about 300 judging slots,” coach Tara Norick said. “There was tough competition with schools from the northwest, southwest, and north divisions just three weeks ahead of the state tournament.”
The Cats will travel to Bozeman this weekend for a matchup against Class AA schools.
Remaining Columbia
Falls results:
Memorized public address
5th - Alex Damon
Humorous oral interpretation
6th Lexi Corbett
Expository speaking
3rd Yeo Chung
4th Samantha Gilk
Original oratory
5th - Mary Gross
7th - Casey Shea
Impromptu speaking
5th - Blake Ladenburg
8th - Henry Chisholm
Extemporaneous speaking
3rd - Blake Ladenburg
4th - Mary Gross
9th - Henry Chisholm
Serious oral interpretation
2nd - Meredith Stolte
9th - Britney Cotton
10th - Bailey Duke
Policy debate
2nd - Erick Franklund and Colter Norick
4th - Emily Getts and Maddie Mantell
8th - Mara Barnes and Moenique Schoech
Lincoln-Douglas debate
4th - Allison Foust
5th - Kaitlin Barnes
7th - Ada Brooks