COSTA MESA : OCC Team to Defend Debate Title

Piles of reference books, legal pads and files make a mess of a classroom floor, but they serve a purpose for the Orange Coast College speech and debate team as it prepares to defend its national title.

One pair of students debates the merits of foreign trade with Taiwan, while students in a nearby office review the latest newspaper articles on frivolous lawsuits. Next door, another team practices singing for yet another entry in the competition.

The students, part of the college’s 40-member team, will compete against 100 colleges and universities from throughout the country in April. They will be hosts to the event in which they hope to win the title for the third year in a row--a feat unmatched in 30 years, according to Head Coach Peg Taylor.

The mood is tense as the competition nears.

“Following the success of the past two seasons, we can’t lie in the grass and expect to sneak up on anyone,” Taylor said. “We stand out like a sore thumb.”

Students Sal Tinejero and Darcy Noricks said they devote 15 to 20 hours a week to improving their speeches. They are working toward making the final team, which will have only 14 members for purposes of seeking the national championship.

“It’s time I’d rather put in if it’s going to help pay for my schooling and help me in a lot of other things throughout my life,” said Tinejero, who studies political science. He has received scholarship offers from universities whose teams have competed against Orange Coast College.

Tinejero hopes his experience with the speech team, which he credits for helping him in his college courses, will someday make him a good teacher.

Noricks, who is studying foreign languages, wants to use her speech skills in a future career in international business.

“This makes you want to discuss things,” she said. “I don’t think we have normal parties like normal colleges. We talk about issues.”

Many of the students joined the team after taking a forensics class. Others were recruited by teachers from their classes. The team has five coaches besides Taylor.

The team has won its last 15 tournaments in a row, dating back to March, 1989. The school will compete in a tournament this week at Pasadena City College and the state championship tournament March 15-17 at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.