By Tony Rosales, PhD: February 22, 2024 – Great Falls, Mt
Each year, students across the nation engage in one of the most enduring competitive seasons known to youth activities. In Montana, our local students are no exception. The recent conclusion of the approximately 4.5-month Speech and Debate season, capped by a State Tournament and a qualifying event for the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) Tournament, marks a period of remarkable achievement. It’s a time to celebrate the dedication and success of Great Falls’ students, as well as reflect on the vibrant community supporting them.
Over fifty students from CMR High, Great Falls High, and Great Falls Central High schools participated in this intellectual marathon. They competed in eight tournaments, engaged in over 750 individual rounds, and contributed more than 100 volunteer hours. Their efforts earned them over 60 NSDA Merit Degrees throughout the season. Notably, our teams are seeing rapid and significant growth, with nearly half of the participants being freshmen, complemented by enthusiastic interest from current 8th graders.
A cornerstone of this year’s success was the stabilization of the coaching staff. After years of fluctuation during the pandemic years, the current set of coaches across the three schools have brought a renewed vision and consistency, fostering a collaborative environment where students can thrive.
Great Falls had the privilege of hosting the season’s first tournament in November. Unique to Speech and Debate, these events require no tickets from the community but instead rely on their support through volunteer judges and local business donations. The commitment of students to recruit volunteers and the willingness of community members to step into unfamiliar roles are foundational to the program’s success. This collaborative effort underscores the shared achievements between the high school teams and the Great Falls community.
Below are this year’s awards that the Great Falls Speech and Debate team’s share with the rest of the community:
Great Falls Tournament – November 2023
- Champions Policy Debate: Brooklyn Newsom and Trygve Madsen (GFH)
- 2nd Place Policy Debate: Bea Casas and Ian Arthur (CMR)
- 7th Place Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Helen Darlington (GFCC)
- 7th Place Duo Interpretation: Brendan Willmarth & Karington Fain (CMR)
- 8th Place Policy Debate: Ada Ciou and Zayne Mitchell (GFCC)
- 8th Place Duo Interpretation: Bristol Meiners & Lydia Comstock (CMR)
- 1st Place B/C School Sweepstakes: Great Falls Central Catholic
Belgrade Tournament – December 2023
- 3rd Policy Debate: Brooklyn Newsom and Trygve Madsen (GFH)
- 4th Place Original Oratory: Bristol Meiners (CMR)
- 5th Place Impromptu: Lydia Comstock (CMR)
- 5th Place Dramatic Interpretation: Louna Lourenco (GFCC)
- 5th Place Duo Interpretation: Bristol Meiners & Lydia Comstock (CMR)
- 6th Place Lincoln-Douglas Debate (Novice): Ethan Janusz (CMR)
- 7th Place Policy Debate: Bea Casas and Riley Prince (CMR)
- 8th Place Policy Debate: Shea Patterson and Lincoln Thomas (GFH)
- 8th Place Lincoln-Douglas Debate (Varsity): Keira Roth (CMR)
- 8th Place Duo Interpretation: Brendan Willmarth & Karington Fain (CMR)
Whitefish Tournament – December 2023
- 4th Place Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Helen Darlington (GFCC)
- 1st Place B/C School Sweepstakes: Great Falls Central Catholic
B/C Divisional Tournament – January 2024
- Champion Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Helen Darlington (GFCC)
- 2nd Place Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Ada Ciou (GFCC)
- 3rd Place Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Zayne Mitchell (GFCC)
National Qualifying Tournament – February 2024
- National Qualifier Congress (Congressional House): Ian Arthur (CMR)
- National QualifierNational Qualifier Duo Interpretation: Bristol Meiners & Lydia Comstock (CMR)
- 2nd Alternate Original Oratory: Bristol Meiners (CMR)
As we look toward the national tournament in June, the community’s role remains as crucial as ever. With a few more opportunities to qualify, ~5 students will be seeking support from the community as they represent Great Falls at a national level. All trip expenses, such as travel, lodging and food, will amount to ~$10,000 for the full traveling team. As the national tournament is outside of the 4.5-month Montana season, students are expected to fundraise the entire cost of these expenses. The support and donations from Great Falls will empower our students in their quest for national recognition.
For those interested in contributing or learning more, please reach out to the head coaches: Jason Burleigh (CMR), Nick Edlund (GFH), and Tony Rosales (GFCC).
Author: Staff
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