OCC speech and debate team repeats as national champion

For the second year in a row, Orange Coast College’s speech, debate and readers theater team beat out other top teams from around the country at the Phi Rho Pi National Tournament last week.

The group took first place with a total of 222.5 points in the weeklong competition at the Orange Coast campus in Costa Mesa.

It is the 10th national title for the college’s speech and debate team.

“This team is a story of perseverance, talent and hard work,” Courtney Anderson, director of forensics at Orange Coast, said in a statement. “Each member of this team was crucial to our success, and this incredible accomplishment is one that we’ll never forget.”

Orange Coast’s team bested Mount San Antonio College of Walnut and Ventura County’s Moorpark College, both of which earned 175 points.

The tournament gathered 100 nationally ranked forensics teams from community colleges, according to a news release.

The Orange Coast students captured first place overall, first in individual events and second in debate.

They also took home nine gold, four silver and 14 bronze medals.