Seniors say the speech, debate team is a family

The Columbia Falls speech and debate team is more than just a bunch of students working on their oratory skills, it’s a family, the team says. And what a family it is. The team is the favorite heading into the state A championships in Laurel this week, as the Wildcats eye their 12th straight state A title.

Seniors Jerelyn Jones, Joey Chester, Mikel Knutson and Brandon Karberg say success doesn’t come easy. On a typical day they get to school at 7:30 a.m. and they get out about 5. Then there’s homework on top of that.

But it’s a fun grind.

Chester, who competes in memorized public address performs a speech by former President Barack Obama, “The Audacity of Hope.”

The speech is an about-face for Chester, who is a self-described conservative. But he also loves politics and he sees the speech as a unifying message in a time when the nation is oft divided.

“Obama’s a great speech writer,” Chester said. He said his plan is to go to Montana State University, study political science and then come home and run for office.

“I want to do something where I can help others,” he said.

Jones competes in two categories, humorous oral interpretation and original oratory. The original speech, which deals with hate speech, she penned herself a little more than three weeks ago. Last year, Jones one a state title in dramatic interpretation. Karberg also competes in humorous oral interpretation, reciting a piece called “Action News Now, with 10 percent more Action!”

Jones and Karberg often compete head-to-head.

“We’re known as the power couple,” Karberg jokes.

Knutson is a Lincoln-Douglas debater. He looks the part. He’s worn a suit jacket and tie to school since he was a freshman.

“It changes people’s perspective of me,” he said.

The competition is a grind. In the early rounds, the speakers are in a room with their competition and a single judge. A round takes about an hour and half, as the kids perform their 10-minute speeches.

A typical day has five rounds. By the time the season is over, they can not only recite their own speeches by heart, but all the competitor’s as well. The later rounds have three judges.

The judges can be interesting, to say the least.

They’re all volunteers from the various communities the teams compete in.

Knutson recalled a judge who docked him points because he had too many things in his shirt pocket. Jones said when she was a sophomore, a judge remarked that the floral print on her shirt was too bright.

“You look and sound like a used car salesman,” Chester said was one judge’s critique.

They credit head coach Tara Norick for keeping them focused and motivated. Karberg didn’t even join the team until he was a junior. He recalled telling Norick he’d join the team if she’d come up with a good speech for him. She opened a desk drawer and handed him one.

“She’s not just a great coach, she’s a great person,” he said.

The teams to beat at state are Whitefish, Laurel and Belgrade they said. The rest of the state would love to knock Columbia Falls out. They say they’re ready for the challenge.

“We’ve put in a lot of hard work and we’re a dedicated group of seniors,” Chester said.