Havre speaker takes a first at Lewistown tournament

Special to the Daily News

Despite fielding one of its smallest teams all season, the Havre High School speech and debate team saw success in Lewistown over the weekend, though not enough to beat perennial powerhouse Belgrade High School.

Havre took second to Belgrade’s first in the Class A competition, with host Fergus County High School coming in third and Browning High School taking fourth.

“I’m pretty happy with how the Havre students did,” head coach Tim Leeds said. “We lost 11 competitors who planned to go to Lewistown to conflicts, but our 13 students all got good experience and great comments from the judges, and we did well.”

Emily Simonson led the way for the Blue Ponies, taking first place in serious oral interpretation of literature, with Mina Everingham close behind her in that event. Everingham took third at Lewistown.

Haley Nicholson, competing at her first tournament for Havre, drew excellent marks in the finals round in extemporaneous speaking to take third in that event, and Esther Stocker also took a third place for Havre, in original oratory.

In memorized public address, Chris Steinmetz, Jesse Riska and Josiah Stocker all scored points for Havre, taking fourth, fifth and sixth place, respectively.

Havre’s humorous oral interpretation of literature squad also scored points, with Randi Ruhkamp taking fifth place and Rory Everingham taking eighth.

Havre High’s debaters also placed, with team debaters Trenton Parrotte and Trenton Smith taking second and Lincoln-Douglas debater Caitlyn Acuff taking fourth in her event.

Johnny Valadez, competing in impromptu speaking at his first tournament, did not make the cut into finals in his event but received excellent comments from his judges.

“Things are coming together well for the season,” Leeds said. “Our kids are working hard and doing well, and it looks like we should bring a full team to Chinook this weekend.

“The Chinook tournament should be a good warm-up to get everyone ready for divisionals in Browning next week,” Leeds added.