Havre debater just misses state medal

Press release

A Havre High School debater just missed advancing to single-elimination quarterfinals in Lincoln-Douglas Debate and earning a state medal, and potentially a first-place rank, in a heartbreaking finish at the online Class A state speech, drama and debate tournament over the weekend.

Senior LillieAnn Mecklenburg, a four-year Blue Pony debater, went 3-2 at the state tournament and ended with a total of 138 speaker points, two points short of breaking into the single-elimination outrounds, and finished in ninth place.

“It was too bad how things played out this weekend for all of our debaters,” Head Coach Tim Leeds said. “Lillie was so close, and worked so hard all year and for the past three years, to miss by just that much is too bad.

“I had high hopes for all of our competitors this year,” Leeds added. “Everyone did really well, and the speaker points and judging comments show that, but it is isn’t reflected as much in the final tally of wins and losses from close rounds.”

Havre was one of 20 Class A schools bringing a total of 251 competitors to the online tournament, including 24 in Lincoln-Douglas debate and 16 in public forum debate.

In Lincoln-Douglas, Mecklenburg defeated debaters from Whitefish, Ronan and East Helena in the guaranteed preliminary rounds with compliments from the judges.

She lost rounds to debaters from Fergus High School in Lewistown and from powerhouse Columbia Falls.

She received strong praise for her debate ability from the judge who gave her the win fourth round with perfect speaker points, awarding Mecklenburg 30 points.

And in her fifth-round loss in an extremely tight match, which put her in the 3-2 bracket relying on speaker points to break into quarterfinals, the judge said it just came down to just a few key points in the final speeches.

“You did really well in defending your case in cross-examination as well as asking your opponent tough questions during the cross-examination,” the judge wrote in Meckenburg’s comments. “You have a really strong case and did well in responding to all of your opponent’s arguments.”

Sophomore Paige Bertelsen, a second-year competitor in Lincoln-Douglas debate for Havre High, also received praise from judges in close rounds, but ended with a 1-4 record, losing to debaters from Corvallis, East Helena, Ronan and Fergus.

Bertelsen defeated a top-ranked debater from Laurel High School in her fourth round.

“You did a good job of citing your sources and providing proof of such,” the judge wrote in that round. “As well, you handled the cross (examination) even when the opposing team was trying to overwhelm you.”

The team of juniors Dartanion Kaftan, a third-year debater, and Riley Klein, competing in debate for his first year, also received complimentary comments but ended with an 0-5 record at state in public forum debate.

Kaftan and Klein debated competitors from Columbia Falls, Frenchtown, Whitefish, East Helena and Polson at the tournament.

Even in their losses, judges praised the team’s performance.

“An excellent debate and very impressive from all the contestants,” the judge in the matchup with Polson wrote.

“You are both excellent speakers and my speaker scores reflected that,” the judge in the round versus Columbia Falls wrote. “You have clearly done a lot of research, are effective debaters, and it is obvious why you have made it so far.”

The Havre debaters now have a week off while they prepare to compete in the National Speech and Debate Association Eastern Montana District online qualifier for this year’s national tournament, which will be held online in June.