The Class A Western Divisional speech and debate tournament in Polson was another tight race to the finish between Columbia Falls and Whitefish. Ultimately, Columbia Falls High School slid past Whitefish High School for the win, earning 236 overall points to Whitefish’s 220 points.  

“Columbia Falls and Whitefish have battled with close finishes all season and the divisional tournament was no different.  The Wildcats pulled ahead in the finals round to win the Divisional trophy,” Columbia Falls head coach Dawn Roe said.  

Frenchtown finished in third place with 66 points. 

Leading Columbia Falls to a first-place finish were five individual champions: Quinn Caudle and Kaya Carlburg in Public Forum Debate, Melody McNally in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Carson Settles and Reid Wollenzien in Duo Interpretation, and Settles in Program Oral Interpretation. 

Divisional runner-up, Whitefish, was also led by five individual champions: Jake Dunker and Bjorn Bungener in Policy Debate, Scarlet Burke in Informative Speaking, Unity Loveless in Memorized Public Address and Mason Loeffler in Extemporaneous Speaking.  

“I am so proud of the powerhouse, collective force this team has become,” Mueller said. 

The divisional tournament determines who qualifies to compete at the Class A state championship on Friday and Saturday in Laurel. Students who placed in the top 12 in each individual event advance to state.  

“Looking at the qualifying numbers from both the Whitefish and Columbia Falls teams, we will definitely take this season's battle to the state tournament,” Roe said.  “We both have strong teams, however we have not yet seen much of the competition from the East side [of Montana].  We expect that this will be a close competition and look forward to a riveting finale to our season.”   

Mueller anticipates the same at state. 

“We head into the state tournament a bit down in numbers, but certainly not out, against a very talented and well-coached perennial favorite Columbia Falls team. This has been a season of back-and-forth results and close finishes. I expect no different in Laurel this upcoming Friday and Saturday,” Mueller said. 

Following are local individual results for the top eight with additional qualifiers included. 

Policy Debate 

1. Jake Dunker and Bjorn Bungener, Whitefish  

2. Boone Shanke and Lauren Rogers, Columbia Falls 

3. Kendal Moultray and Logan Emerson, Columbia Falls 

4. Vana Fortune and Ethan Hunsaker, Whitefish 

5. Andrew Gibbs and Cohen Gates, Whitefish  

6. Cheyanne Dear-Ruel and Loren Connors, Columbia Falls 

Public Forum Debate  

1. Quinn Caudle and Kaya Carlburg, Columbia Falls 

2. Marcus Mercer and Gracie Sliman, Whitefish 

3. Shailey Green and Avery McPherson, Whitefish 

4. Brynn McDonald and Solvei Gunderson, Whitefish  

6. Stimson Dolesh and Alston Olson, Columbia Falls 

8. Malachi Shaw and Chloe Kinsella, Columbia Falls 

Lincoln-Douglas Debate  

1. Melody McNally, Columbia Falls 

2. Charlotte Perkins, Whitefish  

6. Celestine Young, Columbia Falls 

7. Ana Alevizos, Whitefish 

8. E. Ratchye, Whitefish  

Qualifier: Josie Ekholt, Columbia Falls

Extemporaneous Speaking 

1. Mason Loeffler, Whitefish 

2. David Losee, Whitefish  

3. Selah Heinzen, Columbia Falls 

4. Avery Sorensen, Whitefish  

6. Merrick Fairchild, Columbia Falls   

Qualifier:  Sage Petioni, Columbia Falls   

Impromptu Speaking  

1. Eleanor Smiley, Columbia Falls   

2. Astir Pulsifer, Whitefish  

5. Abby Lawhead, Columbia Falls   

7. Samantha Keim, Whitefish 

Qualifiers: Sage Petioni, Columbia Falls and Iona Sarraille, Whitefish 

Original Oratory 

2. Astir Pulsifer, Whitefish 

4. Lizzy Holien, Whitefish  

7. Merell Cooley, Columbia Falls  

Qualifier: Abby Lawhead, Columbia Falls 

Memorized Public Address 

1. Unity Loveless, Whitefish  

2. Kira Shanks, Columbia Falls  

3. Merell Cooley, Columbia Falls  

4. Eleanor Smiley, Columbia Falls 

7. Mason Loeffler, Whitefish 

8. Logan Covey, Whitefish 

Informative Speaking  

1. Scarlet Burke, Whitefish  

5. Greyson Pfeifle, Columbia Falls  

8. Elizabeth Burton, Columbia Falls  

Qualifier: Brandon Widhalm, Columbia Falls 

Humorous Interpretation  

2. Reed Wollenzien, Columbia Falls 

3. Tia Marie Poor, Columbia Falls 

4. Lillian Nelson, Whitefish  

7. Adrien Sandon-Thompson, Columbia Falls 

Qualifier: Charlie Helgeson, Whitefish

Dramatic Interpretation  

3. Tia Maria Poor, Columbia Falls 

Qualifiers: Kory Moran, Columbia Falls and Aiden Cubbage, Whitefish 

Duo Interpretation  

1. Carson Settles and Reid Wollenzien, Columbia Falls 

3. Scarlet Burke and Unity Loveless, Whitefish  

5. Merrick Fairchild and Allycyn Palmer, Columbia Falls 

6. Kory Moran and Brandon Widhalm, Columbia Falls 

Qualifiers: Lizzy Holien and Avery Sorensen and Lillian Nelson and Coy Moss, all from Whitefish

Program Oral Interpretation  

1. Carson Settles, Columbia Falls 

2. Kira Shanks, Columbia Falls 

3. Iona Sarraille, Whitefish 

5. Maren Cromie, Whitefish 

Qualifiers: Emma Wilcox, Columbia Falls and Isla Perkins, Whitefish 

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or [email protected].