Helena, MT – The Carroll College Talking Saints traveled to Canada, Portland, Oregon, and prison over the October 10 weekend.
The first-year students headed north to Calgary for the Fall Open, an October 11-12 tournament dedicated exclusively to novice debaters.
Kimber Koteskey, a communication major, and Davey Erickson, majoring in Environmental Science, advanced to the championship round, finishing second behind a team from the University of Calgary.
Before the tournament began, the students had a chance to see the city and visit the Calgary Zoo.
The Saints loved meeting students from Western Canada, and enjoyed seeing Calgary.
“The opportunity to travel to Calgary, somewhere I had never been, meet people along the way, and learn, grow, and then succeed in debate all wrapped in a few days is something I will never forget,” said Kimber Koteskey, from Great Falls. “I am so thankful for this opportunity.”
Thuymi Tran of Portland and Lily Vickers of Roundup also competed. Junior Mary Knight of Denver came along to judge. Knight competed in Calgary in her first year.
“Every time Mary goes with us to Canada, she makes new friends,” said coach Brent Northup. “She’s a warm ambassador for our program, our school and our country. She served as big sister to the newcomers. When she got hungry, Mary would head out with Canadian debaters to find a place to eat and chat. Mary has a cell filled with texts from new friends.”
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Fifteen hours away, at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, seven Talking Saints were competing against 38 other colleges from 16 states from October 10-12.
The Saints won 16 awards, including winning sweepstakes in individual events, at the Neil Sabin Speech Tournament, the second of two individual events tournaments held that weekend.
Olivia Smith, a senior education major from Bozeman, won six awards including two first place finishes in Persuasion and After Dinner Speaking. Smith added second place awards in both Communication Analysis and Informative Speaking.
Jase Frost, a junior psychology major from Polson, won four awards, including second in After Dinner Speaking and Impromptu. Frost placed third in Program Oral Interp.
Jenna Hammond, a nursing major from Libby, Montana, won awards in impromptu and Program Oral Interp.
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The final tournament of the weekend was held at the Oregon State Prison in Salem, Oregon. Throughout the year, an Oregon coach trained prisoners in British Parliamentary Debate. Teams from around the United States were then invited to compete against the inmates.
The event was held inside the prison. All debaters had to adhere to a strict dress code, and passed through security checks to enter. The debaters had lunch with the inmates, in between rounds. A team from the prison won the competition, defeating the American college teams.
“If I could say one thing about the tournament, it's that the prisoners were the most welcoming, kind, and intelligent debaters I've had the pleasure of competing with,” said Brad Tomasovic, a junior from Great Falls. Tomasovic debated with Davis Thompson, from East Helena. Junior Kaylee Little of Boise served as a Carroll judge.
This is the third time Talking Saints have attended the prison event.
“Every debater that has attended this event over the years has said the experience was both transformative and unforgettable,” said Coach Brent Northup. “Talking informally with the inmates allowed them to set aside stereotypes and begin to see goodness and hope inside each one. Our students are often a little apprehensive before the event starts but grateful afterwards. The inmates loved interacting with the college students – and were also delighted to beat us.”
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First-year Talking Saints in Calgary (Pictured Above)
Back row: Lily Vickers, Thuymi Tran, Davey Erickson
Front row: Mary Knight (Junior, judge), Kimber Koteskey