Pictured left to right: Jase Frost, Jenna Hammond, Olivia Smith, Leah Melvin
HELENA, MT — The Carroll College Talking Saints won their 36th consecutive Northwest Forensics Conference championship on February 15, an honor shared this year with Boise State University and Lewis & Clark College. Team president Olivia Smith, a senior from Bozeman, accepted the Eagle from the NFC president at the close of the year’s final NFC tournament held at Lower Columbia College in Longview, Washington.
“The tournament was pretty special because we were celebrating Mike Ingram, the Whitworth coach who is retiring,” said Smith. “Jenna (Hammond) and I presented Mike with a team jacket because he encompasses what it means to be a Talking Saint. He is special because of his kindness to us and to everyone.”
The team was also recognized as the top British Parliamentary (BP) debate program in the region.
Smith led the team, winning first place in Communication Analysis, and third in Informative Speaking. Kate Wilkins, a sophomore from Salt Lake City, placed second in Extemporaneous Speaking, and reached finals in Impromptu.
"Kate has had an exceptional year in extemp,” said coach Brent Northup, whose personalized license plate reads Extemp. “Kate beat the nation’s best in extemp at the national warm up at Bradley University in Illinois in January, and placed first and second in two regional championship tournaments. Kate works hard and delivers smooth, polished speeches in which she cites a dozen or more sources each time. Nationals is next for her.”
Other winners included Jenna Hammond of Libby, Montana, who won three awards; Leah Melvin a sophomore from Kimberly, Idaho, won awards in poetry and program oral interpretation; and Jase Frost, a junior from Ronan, Montana, won a trophy in After Dinner Speaking.
The team was proud to bring home the gold Eagle, presented to conference champions.
“Winning an Eagle was very special this year,” said Smith. “I’ve never seen a team work harder than this year’s team. The freshmen were the most hard-working new members in all the years I’ve been on the team. Even through adversity, they kept smiles on their faces and loved one another.”
The Talking Saints now turn their attention toward two national tournaments.
Eight debaters will compete in the North American University Championships March 6-8 at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. Six students will compete in speech nationals in Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, April 4-6.
On Thursday, April 9, the Irish National Champions will visit Carroll for an exhibition debate on Carroll’s Irish Night. On Sunday night, April 26, the team will host Night of the Talking Saints, during which members will perform for the Helena community.
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