Speech and debate primed for another run at title
The Wildcat speech and debate team will be sending 24 competitors to this weekend’s state meet after picking up a second place finish at divisionals in Whitefish Saturday.
The Cats will be relying on their debate teams as they seek their 14th straight state A title. The squad has just six seniors.
Debater Shyane Williams said that while the team isn’t as big in year’s past, it’s closer.
“There’s a lot more team bonding and less drama,” she said.
Senior Ian McKenzie and junior Maggie McKeon look to lead the team in policy debate along with seniors teammates Cassidy Norick and Kelsey Wright in public forum debate.
Policy debate is a grueling exercise, where debaters go at it for 45 minutes to more than an hour.
By the time it’s all done “you strongly dislike” your opponent, McKeon said.
The challenge isn’t just the debate, it’s also about keeping the judges interested.
“We practice different speaking drills to keep our judges engaged,” Norick said.
This year’s state meet is in Belgrade. Their first state meet as freshmen was in Belgrade as well, so they’ve come full circle.
They’ll have to shake off a divisional loss to Whitefish to take the crown.
The Cats finished with 170 points to take second place as Whitefish earned the top spot with 227 at divisionals in Whitefish last weekend.
“We will continue to prepare, to practice, and to be focused on competing at the highest level. We know that the competition this year is stronger than ever,” head coach Tara Norick said. “The last time we came home without the state trophy, it went to the Bulldogs. They have put forward a powerhouse team this year, and we are not taking anything for granted.”
McKenzie and McKeon had the only top finish for the Cats in Whitefish Saturday, coming in first in policy debate, while Calie Jo Johnson and Tre Finley were third.
Other top-three finishes included Norick and Wright, who were second in public forum debate, Emmalee Hellen, who was second in memorized public address and third in dramatic interpretation, and Raphe Salmon, who finished third in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
The Columbia Falls team will continue its intense practice schedule this week, despite it being finals week at the high school. As the team prepares to defend its 13 straight state titles, the students say the pressure to perform is nothing new.
“We feel it every year. We’ve had 13 championships in a row, so we know we’re the one with the target on us,” senior Haileigh Bayee, who competes in original oratory and memorized public address said. “We try to keep focused, stay positive, and not get hung up on the titles. “These last days are grueling. Even though we are just ‘talking,’ it is physically draining.”
Whitefish Divisional Results:
Policy Debate:
1st Ian McKenzie and Maggie McKeon
3rd Calie Jo Johnson and Tre Finley
10th Shyane Williams and Ava Foley
Public Forum Debate:
2nd Cassidy Norick and Kelsey Wright
5th Emma Stephens & Griffin Conger
6th Lara Erickson & Laney Conger
Lincoln Douglas Debate:
3rd Raphe Salmon
Extemporaneous:
4th Sam Lovering
9th Aiden Judge
14th Konner Heindl
Impromptu:
4th Sam Lovering
5th Paige Moriarty
Humorous Interpretation:
6th Ave’ McDonald
9th Isaac Adams
Dramatic Interpretation:
3rd Emmalee Hellen
10th Isaac Adams
14th Ave’ McDonald
Original Oratory:
5th Paige Moriarty
6th Haileigh Bayee
13th Suzanna Rosalez
Memorized Public Address:
2nd Emmalee Hellen
5th Haileigh Bayee
6th Suzanna Rosalez
Informative:
6th Anna Pickard
9th Aiden Judge
11th Katherine MacPherson