KALISPELL (AP) – A 2007 graduate of Flathead High School swept to the top in a national speech competition.
Treza Hirsch emerged a champion in the imromptu-speaking portion of the National Forensic League tournament held in Wichita, Kan. Hirsch defeated teammate Neil Hilton, also a Flathead High graduate, in the final round of competition Friday.
The two had risen to the top in a pool of six finalists.
Hirsch was the 2007 State AA champion in Impromptu and Extemporaneous Speaking, and competed at the national level for the third year in a row. She defeated Hilton by six points. Hilton took second place after edging Luke Reilly of St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia.
Hirsch and Hilton were freshmen when they began participating in the high school speech program.