Speakers take first at Hamilton Invitational

The Columbia Falls speech and debate team righted the ship in a big way last week, winning the Hamilton Invitational with 157 points on Nov. 14-15.

Hamilton had beaten Columbia Falls in two other speech meets so far this season. The Broncs took second with 80, and Stevensville took third with 42 points.

“The students put a lot of time and work in practice this week, and the results are showing,” coach Tara Norick said. “We are hitting our stride and will continue to improve as the season moves forward.”

The Wildcats had first-place finishes from Samantha Gilk in expository speaking, Meredith Stolte in original oratory and Annabel Conger and Colin Norick in policy debate.

The Cats travel to Whitefish for a meet this Saturday.

Humorous oral

interpretation

Ava Chisholm 2nd

Jerelyn Jones 3rd

Jenna Smith 5th

Hannah Gustin 10th

Serious oral

interpretation

Bailey Duke 1st

Estavon Torres 5th

Bre Friar 6th

Joyce Hatfield 9th

Expository speaking

Samantha Gilk 1st

Emily Getts 4th

Miranda Lauria 9th

Extemporaneous

speaking

Cody Phillips 2nd

Aiden Scallen 8th

Danny Morgan 9th

Impromptu speaking

Meredith Stolte 2nd

Henry Chisholm 3rd

Casey Shea 5th

Cody Phillips 8th

Original oratory

Meredith Stolte 1st

Casey Shea 3rd

Emily Getts 9th

Memorized

public address

Bailey Duke 4th

Bre Friar 5th

Chloe Foster 8th

Lincoln-Douglas debate

Colter Norick 2nd

Mikel Knutson 7th

Gabby Merrell 9th

Mary Ward 10th

Policy debate

Annabel Conger and Colin Norick 1st

Victoria Bloomgren and Tim Ingham 7th