Glacier and Flathead high schools’ speech and debate teams placed second and third in Butte over the weekend as both teams head into the state championship in Kalispell on Jan. 30 and 31. 

Glacier scored 121.5 points overall to win second place at the Jan. 16 and 17 tournament. Flathead earned 111.5 points to secure third place. Bozeman High School placed first, amassing 204.5 points. 

“I’m really pleased with our results," Glacier head coach Greg Adkins said. “At tournaments in Great Falls in November and Bozeman in December, Bozeman beat us by at least 135 points. This time, we closed that gap by more than 50 points.” 

Individually, the Glacier team placed first in five events, the most of any tournament this season, Adkins said. 

"Freshman Sophya Allred, along with the sophomore and junior duo of Olivia Kufa and Mavery Fauth, represent an exciting future for our program. And of course, senior Josh Lee continues to have a remarkable season, winning both [Memorized Public Address] and Extemporaneous Speaking this past weekend. He’s made an impressive transition after three years in Policy Debate to competing in two speech events,” Adkins said. 

Glacier is hosting the 2026 Class AA state competition and judges are needed to volunteer a minimum of two hours on tournament days.  No prior experience is necessary and a brief training will be provided prior to the round a person is judging. Judge Coordinator Kyla Niva said there are 600 judging hours to cover and132 people have signed up so far. People may sign up online at kalispellspeechdebate.org where a judge’s handbook may also be accessed.  For more information, contact Kyla Niva, judge coordinator, at 751-3500 or [email protected]. 

“We know we still have a lot of work to do to catch Bozeman and to hold off Flathead and Missoula Hellgate, but I couldn’t be prouder of this team and the effort they continue to show,” Adkins said. 

Following are local individual results:

Duo Interpretation 

1. Layna Astley and Lincoln McElwain, Flathead 

8. Scarlett Johnson and Adison Elie, Glacier 

Dramatic Interpretation 

1. Sophya Allred, Glacier 

2. Jaydon Pesola, Flathead 

3. Megan Mikelson, Glacier 

4. Alex Carmalt, Glacier 

7. Lynne Beisel, Flathead 

Humorous Interpretation 

6. Bridget Reed, Glacier 

8. Trevor Hammer, Glacier 

Program Oral Interpretation 

3. Kyla Turley, Glacier 

4. Bronson Willcut, Flathead 

6. Jacob Braach, Flathead 

Informative Speaking 

4. Adie Fedor, Flathead 

6. Claire Timm, Flathead 

7. Annabelle Church, Glacier 

Original Oratory 

2. Kendall Dolan, Glacier 

6. Jacob Braach, Flathead 

Memorized Public Address 

1. Josh Lee, Glacier 

4. Bronson Willcut, Flathead 

5. Myla Lamson, Glacier 

7. Alex Carmalt, Glacier 

8. Ethan Kauffman, Flathead 

Impromptu Speaking 

3. Jake Milone, Flathead 

8. Dalton Howser, Flathead 

Extemporaneous Speaking 

1. Josh Lee, Glacier 

2. Jake Milone, Flathead 

7. Fenton Liebe-Cohen, Flathead 

Legislative Debate 

3. B. Poitra, Flathead 

7. Vayda Kauffman, Flathead 

8. Miles Flake, Flathead 

Public Forum Debate 

1. Olivia Kufa and Mavery Fauth, Glacier 

6. Oliver Casey and Huzhao Miele, Glacier 

Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate 

5. Anya Denmark, Glacier 

Varsity Policy Debate 

4. Kyra Russell and Lillie Groom, Glacier 

5. Brooklynn Bowen and Elle Sauer, Flathead 

8. Mikayla King and Cayden Porter, Flathead