Columbia Falls speech and debate takes second at the Western A divisional tourney

The Columbia Falls speech and debate team had five champions at the Western A divisional tournament Saturday as they took second overall.

Frenchtown, the host, took first, while Whitefish was third.

The Wildcats had first place finishes from Griffin Conger in Original Oratory; Emma Stephens and Eddie Chisholm in Policy Debate; Raphe Salmon in Lincoln Douglas Debate; Aiden Judge in Extemporaneous Speaking; and Zack Tillman in Memorized Public Address.

They all qualified for the state meet in Corvallis this weekend.

The following students also placed at divisionals and qualified for state, noted coach Dawn Roe:

Tillman - 2nd in Dramatic Interp

Kynsleigh Gould and Eleanor Hollingsworth - 2nd in Policy Debate

Carter Harvey - 3rd in Humorous Interp

Caleb Donsbach - 5th in Extemporaneous Speaking

Judge - 6th in Memorized Public Address

Quinn Caudle and Emma Wendt - 6th in Public Forum

Ruby Davis - 7th in Humorous Interp

Brayden Crawford and Aiden Rohn - 7th in Public Forum

Colton Little - 8th in Extemporaneous Speaking

Davis - 8th in Informative

In addition, the following students either qualified or will attend state as an alternate:

Carson Settles - Informative and Memorized Public Address

Kai Lee Cole and Lauren Rogers - Policy Debate

Celestine Young — Lincoln Douglas Debate

Emma Maddux - 1st runner up/alternate in Informative

Colton Little - 1st runner up/alternate in Dramatic Interp

Selah Heinzen - 1st runner up/alternate in Lincoln Douglas Debate

Reed Wollenzien - 2nd runner up/alternate in Humorous Interp