Cats hope 13 is a lucky number for speech team
The Columbia Falls speech and debate team.
With more than 50 students in the program, the Columbia Falls speech and debate team is hoping to nab its 13th state A title this season.
The Wildcats have 15 seniors and 19 new competitors, including returning state champions Jerelyn Jones and Ava Chisholm. Chloe Foster and Chisholm were also national qualifiers last season.
The Cats also have a host of returning talent that qualified for state last year in Colin Norick and Annabel Conger in policy debate; Ian McKenzie and Danielle Schwalk in policy debate; Anna Nicosia and Mary Ward in public forum; Cassidy Norick and Kelsey Wright in public forum; Sarah Posey in public forum; Danny Morgan and Alex Garate extemporaneous; Willie Baltz in impromptu; Joey Chester and Emma Erickson in memorized public address; Brandon Karberg humorous oral interpretation; and Jacob Hohman in dramatic interpretation.
Head coach Tara Norick has been with the program for 13 seasons and this is her seventh as head coach. She is assisted by Barry Conger, Candy Gross and Alicia Gillen.
“Our seniors are strong seasoned returning competitors. Their strength is in their work ethic and the supportive nature of our team,” Norick said. “We are focused on being a cohesive supportive group and performing our best as a team with points at state in every event.”
The team has already started out strong, winning its opener in Stevensville and a meet in Kalispell that featured five AA schools.
Norick said the team to beat in the west is Whitefish and in the east, Laurel. Laurel hosts the state tournament this year.
With fall sports just ending this week, it will be awhile before the team is at full strength. Chisholm and Nicosia play volleyball and Karberg football.
Chisholm is a junior. Nicosia and Karberg seniors.
Norick is optimistic about this year’s squad.
“I’ve got strong people in every event,” she said.
She said part of the success of the program is the family atmosphere the team has — the older students coach and encourage the younger ones, Norick noted.