C-Falls speech and debate team dominates home meet
Emmalee Hellen and Paige Moriarty get input from Coach Kim Wortman between rounds as Columbia Falls hosted its speech and debate meet Saturday. (photo provided)
The Columbia Falls speech and debate team dominated its home meet over the weekend, defeating more than 16 schools to win the meet while compiling more than twice as many points as second-place Whitefish.
Columbia Falls earned four first-place finishes to finish with 176 points in the team standings while Whitefish finished with 84 and Frenchtown was a distant third at 41.
Along with the four top finishes, Columbia Falls was second in five events and took third in another.
“We are proud of this team,” head coach Tara Norick said. “It is great to see such a breadth of talent from so many. They really put forth the effort and hopefully the community had the opportunity to see how amazing their kids really are.”
Paige Moriarity and Isaac Adams led the way Saturday as both earned first and second place finishes. Moriarity was first in impromptu speaking and second in original oratory while Adams was first in humorous interpretation and second in dramatic interpretation.
Columbia Falls also took home first place in two other events as Shyane Williams and Ava Foley were first in policy debate and Cassidy Norick and Kelsey Wright took the top spot in public forum debate.
The speech and debate team will have two weeks off before their next meet, the Stevensville Invitational, Nov. 30 – Dec. 1. The divisional tournament is in Whitefish Jan. 19 and the state championship will be in Belgrade Jan. 26. Columbia Falls is seeking its 14th consecutive state championship.
Columbia Falls Invitational:
Policy Debate:
1st Shyane Williams and Ava Foley
2nd Calie Jo Johnson and Tre Finley
5th Ian McKenzie and Maggie McKeon
Public Forum Debate:
1st Cassidy Norick and Kelsey Wright
5th Emma Stephens & Griffin Conger
8th Lara Erickson & Laney Conger
Memorized Public Address:
2nd Emmalee Hellen
Extemporaneous:
4th Sam Lovering
Impromptu:
1st Paige Moriarity
2nd Sam Lovering
Humorous Interpretation:
1st Isaac Adams
3rd Ave’ McDonald
Dramatic Interpretation:
2nd Isaac Adams
Original Oratory:
2nd Paige Moriarty
6th Suzanna Rosalez
8th Haileigh Bayee
Sweeps (team score)
1st Columbia Falls 176
2nd Whitefish 84
3rd Frenchtown 41