HELENA – The Carroll College Talking Saints opened their season by earning more than 35 awards at two early tournaments at home and in Powell, Wyoming.
The new Carroll first-years competed in the Carroll Teaching Tournament on September 13-15, sweeping the top three awards in novice debate and also winning five speaker awards. The experienced Carroll teams served as judges and hosts for visiting schools from South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana.
Stefan Fiandeiro of San Jose, California, and Brady Clark of Madison, Wisconsin, won debate on a narrow split-decision over teammates Roisin O’Neill of Portland, Oregon, and Hellie Badaruddin of Missoula. Finishing third were Rylie Weeks of Kalispell and Vinny Gallardo of Butte. Vinny, Hellie and Ryan Vosen of Kalispell tied for second best speaker in the event.
“Seeing the new first-years shine at this early season event was wonderful,” said coach Brent Northup. “We have 12 new first-year team members, and each and every one of them is a compassionate person full of talent. Christmas has come before the first freeze this year.”
A week later in Powell, Wyoming, September 20-21, the upperclass squad, along with four first-years, warmed up by winning 30 awards at the Trapper Rendezvous at Northwest College. Carroll won the second-place sweepstakes award, finishing a close second to the University of Utah.
All five Carroll debate teams were among the eight teams advancing to the semifinals in debate. Carroll finished second, third and fourth in British Parliamentary debate, with a team from Idaho State winning the event. Carroll speakers won seven speaker awards in debate, with sophomore Taylor Potts of Great Falls honored as the tournament’s top speaker.
The Carroll team of Badaruddin and O’Neill was the top novice debate team, and also earned a spot in the open debate semifinals.
Led by Teigen Tremper, a junior from Whitefish, Carroll also won more than a dozen awards in speech and drama in Powell. Tremper finished second in debate, second in dramatic interpretation, and second in impromptu speaking. She was also a finalist in extemporaneous. Eleanor Ferrone, a sophomore from Hastings, Nebraska, won four awards including a first-place finish in prose interpretation. Senior Michael Fuller of Helena, finished third in both poetry and dramatic interpretation. Potts added a third-place impromptu trophy to set next to her debate awards.
“We’re still pretty rusty,” said Northup. “But it was an encouraging beginning with lots of smiling faces on the way home.”
The Talking Saints give out a stuffed animal at the close of each tournament to a team member who lovingly cares for teammates in the heat of competition. First-year team member Rylie Weeks carried the “Carroll Bear” home with her this weekend.