Carroll College Wins 36th Straight Debate Championship

The Carroll College Talking Saints have done something almost unheard of in competitive sports: they've won 36 championships in a row.

The Helena, Montana team captured their latest Northwest Forensics Conference title on February 15 at a tournament in Longview, Washington. They shared the honor with Boise State University and Lewis & Clark College, but the streak belongs entirely to Carroll.

Team president Olivia Smith, a senior from Bozeman, says this year felt extra special. The tournament doubled as a celebration for retiring Whitworth coach Mike Ingram, whom the team honored with a Carroll jacket for his years of kindness to competitors.

"I've never seen a team work harder than this year's team," Smith said. She won first place in Communication Analysis and third in Informative Speaking while leading her squad to victory.

The wins kept coming across the board. Sophomore Kate Wilkins from Salt Lake City placed second in Extemporaneous Speaking after beating the nation's best at a national warmup tournament in January. Her speeches cite a dozen or more sources each time, delivered smoothly under pressure.

Jenna Hammond from Libby took home three awards. Leah Melvin won in poetry and oral interpretation. Jase Frost earned a trophy in After Dinner Speaking.

Why This Inspires

What makes this streak remarkable isn't just the trophies. Smith praised the team's newest members as "the most hard-working freshmen in all the years I've been on the team." Even through tough moments, they kept positive attitudes and supported each other.

Coach Brent Northup (whose license plate literally reads "Extemp") has built more than a winning program. He's created a culture where excellence and kindness go hand in hand, where honoring a rival coach matters as much as winning.

The team now prepares for two national tournaments in March and April. Eight debaters will compete at Bates College in Maine, while six students head to nationals in Portland, Oregon. They'll also host the Irish National Champions for an exhibition debate and perform for their Helena community in April.

Thirty-six straight wins proves that small schools can dream big and deliver even bigger.