Montana Speech and Debate Season Opens Nov. 7
Families with students in Class AA and Class A programs should plan for tournament travel and rebuilt rosters through January.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Secondary Education
Flathead Valley high schools began the 2026-27 speech and debate season, with the Class AA season opening tournament set for Nov. 7 in Missoula. Students across Montana's Class AA and Class A programs are preparing for a state championship field that includes several rebuilding teams.
Why it matters
For Montana families with students in speech and debate, the season sets the calendar for weekend travel, tournament fees, and time commitments from November through January. Coaching changes and graduation losses at several schools mean the competitive picture is shifting for students hoping to earn a state spot.
The Class AA season opens Nov. 7 in Missoula and the state championship runs Jan. 29-30 in Great Falls. Bozeman was the defending Class AA champion, finishing 2.5 points ahead of Flathead, which edged Glacier by one point for second.
The players
Flathead High School
Kalispell public school whose speech and debate program is rebuilding after most of its team graduated last year.
Glacier High School
Kalispell-area school with more than 130 students in its speech and debate program, led by head coach Greg Adkins.
Whitefish High School
Defending Class A state champion whose program now has a new head coach, Jason Brown, after Sarah Mueller's 12-year tenure.
Bozeman High School
Defending Class AA state champion that finished 2.5 points ahead of Flathead at the last state tournament.
Olivia Close
Bigfork senior seeking a fourth state title this season.
The details
Flathead lost most of its team to graduation last year and is rebuilding under second-year head coach Kelli Rosenquist, who added former competitors as assistant coaches. Glacier's strength rests on large numbers and experienced coaching, with head coach Greg Adkins leading a program of more than 130 students. Whitefish is replacing Sarah Mueller, who led the team for 12 years, with Jason Brown, who has five years of assistant coaching experience and says he took the role to keep coaching continuity in place.
Timeline
Nov. 7: Class AA season opening tournament in Missoula.
Dec. 5: Whitefish speech and debate tournament.
Dec. 11-12: Kalispell Western Regional tournament hosted by Glacier.
Jan. 29-30: Class AA state championship in Great Falls.
The Home Front
The season runs on the Montana High School Association's existing Class AA and Class A state championship structure, the same framework that determined last year's top finishers. Coaching turnover at Whitefish and graduation losses at Flathead show how regional competition can shift from one season to the next.
If your student is on a speech and debate team, check the tournament calendar now and plan for travel to Missoula on Nov. 7 and to Great Falls for the Jan. 29-30 state championship. Ask your school's coach about fees, transportation, and whether any weekend events are hosted locally so you can budget time and money in advance.
The takeaway
Rebuilding programs and new coaches can change which schools reach state, so families should confirm their student's team roster and tournament schedule with the coach early in the season. Keep the Nov. 7 and Jan. 29-30 dates on your household calendar to plan rides and weekend commitments.
What happens next
The Class AA season opening tournament takes place Nov. 7 in Missoula, followed by the Whitefish tournament on Dec. 5, the Kalispell Western Regional on Dec. 11-12, and the Class AA state championship on Jan. 29-30 in Great Falls.
Further reading
For more on school-level programs across the state, see Secondary Education coverage for Montana families.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Inter Lake.
