MISSION VIEJO : Speech Team Finishes 2nd in National Meet

The Saddleback Community College District speech and debate team recently finished second at the Community College National Tournament in San Francisco.

The team finished first in the debate competition and fourth in individual events to earn second place overall. The tournament took place April 10 to 14.

The team, which consists of students from Saddleback and Irvine Valley colleges, competed against 82 other community college teams.

“This is the first time in the history of the program that we have ever had a team win (first) in debate,” said Craig Grossman, former director of forensics at Irvine Valley College. “To have the debate squad combine for 11 awards is far beyond anything we have ever accomplished. This is the biggest finish overall for the program.”

In March, the district’s speech and debate team won the state championship at the California Community College Forensics Association State Tournament at Mt. San Antonio College.

It was only last year that debate was introduced to Irvine Valley College by Gary Rybold, the school’s director of forensics.

“I have coached several national winners at other schools, but none have had the overall strength of this squad,” Rybold said.