Updated 8/11/26
WELCOME TO THE WOLFPACK SPEECH & DEBATE PROGRAM
Welcome to Glacier High School’s Wolfpack Speech & Debate Team!
Speech & Debate is a varsity activity, and being part of the team is a privilege. We expect every team member to follow Glacier High School activity guidelines as well as our program expectations.
Built on the tradition of one of Montana’s most successful AA forensics programs, Wolfpack Speech & Debate has established itself as one of the state’s premier programs. Since Glacier High opened in 2007, the team has captured multiple State AA Championships and has consistently competed at the highest level.
We are also the largest Speech & Debate team in Montana, with an average of 115–150 students competing each year—nearly 10% of the Glacier High student population.
TOURNAMENT SEASON & TRAVEL
The varsity tournament season generally runs from the first weekend in November through mid-February. Junior Varsity tournaments typically conclude before Christmas.
Varsity Schedule
Oct 1-First Day of Practice
Oct 24-Big Howl Scrimmage/Parent Meeting
Nov 7 – Missoula Kickoff
Nov 13-14 – Bozeman
Dec 4-5 – Helena
Dec 11-12 – Kalispell Western Regionals (Hosted by Glacier)
Jan 8-9 – Missoula
Jan 15-16 – Butte
Jan 29-30 – Great Falls (State AA)
Feb 12-13 – NSDA Districts in Kalispell (Hosted by Flathead)
Junior Varsity Schedule
Oct 1-First Day of Practice
Oct 24-Big Howl Scrimmage/Parent Meeting
Nov 7 – Missoula Kickoff
Nov 21 – Columbia Falls
Dec 5 – Whitefish
Dec 11-12 – Kalispell Western Regionals (Hosted by Glacier)
School District #5 provides transportation to tournaments. Glacier High School and the GHS Booster Club provide lodging for overnight tournaments and most meals at two-day tournaments. Students are responsible for other meals and personal supplies.
HOW DOES MY CHILD MAKE “VARSITY”?
The top four entries in each event score points for the Varsity team and are eligible to compete at two-day tournaments. Our JV team competes primarily at one-day local tournaments. Varsity and JV rosters are fluid and may change throughout the season. Roster and travel decisions are based on a variety of factors, including:
Tournament performance
Practice attendance and effort
Available spots in each event
Participation in multiple events
Bus capacity
Competitive strategy
Attitude and teamwork
Coaches’ discretion
We do not have “cuts” in Speech & Debate. However, travel spots are not guaranteed. Students may earn a varsity letter in Speech & Debate.
HOW OFTEN DOES MY CHILD NEED TO PRACTICE?
Practice schedules vary by event, but students should expect to practice two to five days per week. Each squad will have its own practice schedule, which will be posted in the squad’s Google Classroom and on the team website. While we understand that students have other commitments, students are expected to attend all required practices and communicate with their coach when a conflict arises. The practice schedule can be found on the team website.
WHAT SHOULD I DO AS A PARENT?
Your first priority is making sure that all required registration, fees, and paperwork are completed before your student participates. All students must complete the requirements for participation in Glacier High School activities. Complete the required Arbiter Student Registration – Glacier High School. Additional information is available through Required Registration. Complete all required fees before participation.Required Fees. Homeschool & Private School Students. Additional requirements apply to students attending homeschool or private school. Homeschool & Private School Information
PARENT CHECKLIST
☐ Arbiter registration completed
☐ Required fees paid (Activity Fee, Activity Ticket, Spirit Pack, Toyota Raffle Tickets)
☐ Homeschool/private school requirements completed, if applicable
COMMUNICATION
Communication is an important part of being a successful Wolfpack team member. Students and parents are required to join the appropriate Remind group for season communications.
Students: Text @ghs25sd-st to 81010
Parents: Text @ghs-p-2526 to 81010
These are NOT new groups for the season. If you use Facebook, we encourage you to join the Wolfpack Speech & Debate (Students, Alumni, Friends) group for announcements, photos, and program information.
FEED THE WOLVES PARENT GROUP
Our parent organization, Feed the Wolves, supports the team in many ways. Parents can help:
Feed our students by providing refreshments for tournament trips
Feed the program through fundraising, booster baskets, and concessions at home tournaments
Feed team morale by creating posters, state-team grab bags, and other team-support activities
Feed our community by judging or helping recruit judges for home tournaments
Home tournaments cannot operate without judges, so parent and community volunteers are essential to our success. More info coming as we get closer to tournament time!
THE WOLFPACK THEME
Each year, the Wolfpack Speech & Debate program adopts a team theme that helps define our identity, goals, and expectations for the season. Our theme this year is CALLING ALL RAVENS! Check the team website for information about this year’s theme.
WOLFPACK COACHING STAFF
Our coaching staff for the season includes:
Greg Adkins — Head Coach
Ivanna Fritz
Josh Munro
Sara Menssen
Chris Adamcyk
Dwight Camillucci
Brianna Camillucci
Jon Sorensen
Jackson Palmer
Kerrie More
Coaching assignments and profiles are available on the team website.
STUDENT EXPECTATIONS
Being a member of the Glacier Speech & Debate Team is a privilege. All team members are expected to maintain good academic standing, follow school and team rules, attend required practices, and represent Glacier High School and the Wolfpack program appropriately.
School & Team Rules
Glacier High School rules are team rules. We will follow school policies and support administrative decisions.
Academic Expectations
Students must remain in good academic standing by carrying five classes and passing all subjects each semester in order to remain eligible.
Attendance
Students are expected to attend and participate in all classes during the school day.
Arriving home late from a tournament or bus trip is not an acceptable reason for missing class or arriving late to school.
Students who receive an unexcused absence (UA) or tardy absence (TA) will not practice with their squad that day. This may affect future competition opportunities.
Students may miss school only with a legitimate excuse from a parent, coach, administrator, or medical professional.
Students who receive ISS (in-school suspension) or OSS (out-of-school suspension) may also lose competition opportunities.
Substance Use
Alcohol, drugs, and tobacco products are prohibited during the season.
Our team policy follows Glacier High School policy. Students must not:
Smoke, vape, or use tobacco products
Drink alcohol
Use illegal drugs
Attend gatherings or ride in vehicles where these substances are present
Violations may result in immediate removal from the team for the remainder of the season.
If a student arrives at a gathering where alcohol, drugs, or tobacco are present, the expectation is that the student leaves immediately.
Travel
Students are expected to travel to tournaments with the team.
Students may return home with a parent after a tournament only when the parent personally notifies a member of the coaching staff and completes a travel release form.
To encourage team building, students may normally use this option only once during the season. Special circumstances may be considered by the coaching staff.
WHAT EVENT SHOULD MY CHILD DO?
Finding the right event can take some time—don’t stress about getting it right immediately! Our coaches will help each student find the event that best fits their interests, strengths, and the needs of the team. Most students try several events before finding the one that feels right.
SPEECH & DEBATE EVENTS
There is an event for almost every type of student—from performers and writers to researchers, improvisers, debaters, and students who simply enjoy talking about ideas.
Lincoln-Douglas Debate Coach: Ivanna Fritz Also known as LD or Value Debate, Lincoln-Douglas is a one-on-one debate focusing on questions of moral, political, and social significance. The national topic changes monthly. Students research the topic and construct cases and arguments.
Commitment: Moderate to heavy research
Skills: Research, argumentation, prepared and impromptu speaking
A novice division is offered for newcomers until January.
Legislative Debate Coach: Jon Sorensen Also known as Legislative Debate, Legi, Parliamentary Debate, or Student Congress, this event is modeled after congressional debate. Students research issues, write bills, and argue for or against legislation. Topics change throughout the season.
Commitment: Moderate to heavy research
Skills: Research, persuasion, prepared and impromptu speaking
Varsity-only event.
Public Forum Debate Coach: Chris Adamcyk Public Forum is a two-person team event in which students advocate for or against a resolution. A central goal is communicating complex ideas clearly and persuasively to a general audience or “citizen judge.” Topics change monthly, and students research the topic and develop arguments and positions.
Commitment: Moderate to heavy research
Skills: Research, argumentation, persuasion, prepared and impromptu speaking
Policy Debate Coach: Josh Munro Policy Debate is a two-person team event in which teams debate policy-oriented issues. Students conduct extensive research and develop cases and arguments supporting or opposing a policy position. Commitment: Moderate to heavy research
Skills: Research, argumentation, prepared and impromptu speaking A novice division is offered for newcomers until January.
Extemporaneous Speaking Coach: Dwight Camillucci Extemp is a short-preparation event focused on current social, political, national, and international issues. Students have 30 minutes to prepare a seven-minute persuasive speech using current periodicals and student-created research files.
Commitment: Moderate research
Skills: Current-events knowledge, research, analysis, organization, speaking
Impromptu Speaking Coach: Dwight Camillucci Impromptu is a short-preparation event. Students receive a topic—usually a quotation or editorial cartoon—and have three minutes to prepare a five-minute speech.
Commitment: Light research
Skills: Organization, analysis, improvisation, speaking
Original Oratory Coach: Brianna Camillucci Original Oratory is a memorized persuasive speech written by the student. Students research and write a speech designed to persuade an audience.
Commitment: Extensive writing and research
Time Limit: 10 minutes
Informative Speaking Coach: Brianna Camillucci. Informative Speaking is a memorized speech designed to educate or enlighten an audience. Visual aids, usually posters, are strongly encouraged.
Commitment: Extensive writing and research
Time Limit: 10 minutes
Memorized Public Address with Analysis (MPA) Coach: Sara Menssen Also known as MPA or “Mumpa,” this event combines memorized speaking with analysis of a previously delivered speech in an audience-speaker context.
Skills: Memorization, dramatic presentation, analysis, writing
Time Limit: 10 minutes
Humorous Interpretation/Dramatic Interpretation Coach: Greg Adkins Also known as HI, HOI, DI and Serious Interp. Interpretation events are stylized acting performances based on published literature.HI focuses on humorous material, while DI focuses on dramatic material. Interpretation events combine literature, acting, character development, and performance. Memorization and strong performance skills are essential. Manuscripts are permitted but generally not recommended.
Time Limit: 10 minutes
Duo Oral Interpretation Coach: Jackson Palmer Also known as DUO, Duel Interp. Duo is a two-person performance of a published piece of literature with either a humorous or dramatic theme. Partners perform together while following the event’s specific performance conventions. Interpretation events combine literature, acting, character development, and performance.
Skills: Memorization, acting, characterization, teamwork
Time Limit: 10 minutes
Program Oral Interpretation Coach: Sara Menssen Also known as POI. Program Oral Interpretation is a 10-minute performance that combines at least two of the following genres: Prose, Poetry or Drama. Students develop a theme or argument through narrative, storytelling, and/or characterization. Interpretation events combine literature, acting, character development, and performance.
A manuscript is required.
Time Limit: 10 minutes