Talking Saints Begin Promising Season

Photos of Talking Saints

HELENA – The Carroll College Talking Saints forensics team opened their year by winning 26 awards at tournaments in Billings, Montana, and Powell, Wyoming.

At Northwest College in Wyoming on September 21-22, the Saints dominated World Debate by winning the top three team awards and the top six speaker awards. Juniors Kelsie Watkins of Snohomish, Washington, and Peri Dropping of Redmond, Washington, won the tournament defeating two other Carroll teams in the finals. Sophomore Teigen Tremper of Whitefish, Montana, and senior Haley Meredith of Jerome, Idaho, finished second. Senior Frank Stumbo of Shelley, Idaho, was named best speaker with partner Josh Mansfield of Pocatello, Idaho, finishing second. Stumbo and Mansfield placed third in debate, behind two Carroll teams.

In speech events, Mansfield won four awards, including first in persuasive speaking, first in impromptu and second in extemporaneous speaking.

Junior Michael Fuller of Helena finished third in poetry, third in persuasive speaking and second in dramatic interpretation. Dropping placed third in prose interpretation.

The 12 Saints won the third place team sweepstakes award.

At Rocky Mountain College in Billings on September 14-16, 10 mostly first-year Saints won four awards in the World Debate tournament. First-year debater Taylor Potts of Great Falls, Montana, was named top speaker in debate. Potts and partner Thomas Trangmoe of Stevensville, Montana, placed fifth in debate. Trangmoe was named third best speaker.

Sophomore Parker Gunderson of Billings, Montana, and senior Jonathan Groux of Salem, Oregon, placed second in debate. Gunderson was the fifth best speaker.

“It’s a very promising start to the year,” said coach Brent Northup. “The first-year students did very well against more experienced teams at Rocky and our upper-class kids had a great weekend in Powell. We’re rusty, but the students are working hard. It will be fun to see what happens when we’re all together in Oregon in November. Color me encouraged.”

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HELENA – The Carroll College Talking Saints forensics team opened their year by winning 26 awards at tournaments in Billings, Montana, and Powell, Wyoming.

At Northwest College in Wyoming on September 21-22, the Saints dominated World Debate by winning the top three team awards and the top six speaker awards. Juniors Kelsie Watkins of Snohomish, Washington, and Peri Dropping of Redmond, Washington, won the tournament defeating two other Carroll teams in the finals. Sophomore Teigen Tremper of Whitefish, Montana, and senior Haley Meredith of Jerome, Idaho, finished second. Senior Frank Stumbo of Shelley, Idaho, was named best speaker with partner Josh Mansfield of Pocatello, Idaho, finishing second. Stumbo and Mansfield placed third in debate, behind two Carroll teams.

In speech events, Mansfield won four awards, including first in persuasive speaking, first in impromptu and second in extemporaneous speaking.

Junior Michael Fuller of Helena finished third in poetry, third in persuasive speaking and second in dramatic interpretation. Dropping placed third in prose interpretation.

The 12 Saints won the third place team sweepstakes award.

At Rocky Mountain College in Billings on September 14-16, 10 mostly first-year Saints won four awards in the World Debate tournament. First-year debater Taylor Potts of Great Falls, Montana, was named top speaker in debate. Potts and partner Thomas Trangmoe of Stevensville, Montana, placed fifth in debate. Trangmoe was named third best speaker.

Sophomore Parker Gunderson of Billings, Montana, and senior Jonathan Groux of Salem, Oregon, placed second in debate. Gunderson was the fifth best speaker.

“It’s a very promising start to the year,” said coach Brent Northup. “The first-year students did very well against more experienced teams at Rocky and our upper-class kids had a great weekend in Powell. We’re rusty, but the students are working hard. It will be fun to see what happens when we’re all together in Oregon in November. Color me encouraged.”