Polson Speech and Debate place fifth in divisional tourney

The Polson Speech and Debate team placed fifth at last week’s Class A Divisional tournament, held at Polson High and Middle school, with a dozen team members qualifying for the upcoming state tournament, Jan. 31-Feb. 1 in Laurel.

Twelve Class A schools competed in the event, including Ronan, which is sending nine students to State.

Xander Becker placed second in Dramatic Interpretation; Tristan Butler was fifth in Humorous Interpretation, followed by Jack Huffine, who placed eighth. Dixie Montgomery and Chloe Anderson placed seventh in Duo Interpretation; Daisy Anderson was sixth in Program Oral Interpretation and Esther McIntee was sixth in Informative Speaking.

Additional team members who qualified for State are: Jacey Alexander-Wilson and Alexa Kinaman, Lincoln-Douglas Debate; Bethany Butler and Tristan Butler, Duo Interpretation; Xander Becker and Ashlin Peters, Duo Interpretation; Dixie Montgomery, Dramatic Interpretation; Chloe Anderson, Humorous Interpretation; Amy Thoft, Extemporaneous Speaking and Program Oral Interpretation.

Ronan students who placed at Divisionals include Robert Haggard, sixth place in Humorous Interpretation; Melanie Mathias, seventh in Program Oral Interpretation; and Chevy Reum, eighth place in Program Oral Interpretation.

Also earning berths at State are Tristan Buckallew, Memorized Public Address and Extemporaneous Speaking; Gordon Stewart and Sebastian Ortega, Duo Interpretation; Melanie Mathias and Chevy Reum, Duo Interpretation; Evan Chaney and Kadin LeGrow, Duo Interpretation; and Kylei Adams, Humorous Interpretation.