By HDN Staff
The Havre High Speech and Debate Team captured its fifth Class A speech sweepstakes in seven outings with a victory in Malta this weekend.
The Ponies, led by strong senior speakers, have dominated Northern A competition in speech and debate this season, losing only to AA CM Russell at the first meet of the season and placing fourth in December at the AA dominated tournament at Bozeman.
As the Havre team prepares for divisionals at Blue Sky next Saturday, the squad scored 116 points at Malta, led by impressive finishes by five seniors.
Sean Williams and Vanessa Driveness placed first in Memorized Public Address (MPA), and Serious Oral Interpretation. Seniors Matt Widdekind and Rachel Spangelo were second in Humorous Oral Interp and Extemporaneous and Heidi Hinckley placed fourth in Impromptu.
Other Havre sweepstakes points were earned by: Tyrell Lundman, third in Lincoln-Douglas (LD) Debate; Shawn McLain, fourth in LD Debate; John Boucher, fifth in LD Debate; Adria Antonioli and David Chambers, second in Team Debate; Peter Spangelo and Matt Welch, third in Team Debate; Sarah Benson and Angela Adams, fourth in Team Debate; Steve Borlaug, third in Impromptu; Samantha Pollington, third in Serious Oral Interp; Gina Williams, fourth in MPA; Kyle Boshee, fifth in MPA; Jen Williams, fourth in Oratory; Dallas Crossley, fifth in Oratory; Michael Ortman, fourth in Humorous Oral Interp.
Speakers must place in the top eight at divisionals next week in order to quality for the state tournament which will be held in Havre on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 28-29.
The coaching staff at HHS would like to thank the many people who have volunteered to judge at state. Only a few additional hours of debate may need to be scheduled, coaches said, depending upon the number of teams that qualify at their divisional tournaments.
Anyone who volunteered to judge is reminded that they are welcome to participate in a judges' clinic at Havre High School on Wednesday, Jan. 19, at 7 p.m. at the high school cafeteria. HHS coaches will review the ballots and comment sheets for every event and judges' questions will be welcomed. Please plan to attend.
