One year removed from winning state and being named second best in the nation, the Moorpark College Forensics team has their work cut out for them with the 2008 season in full swing.
Displaying such a decorated past, the Moorpark College Forensics team works hard to keep their level of success high.
“Our expectations are to continue in the hard work in the excellent tradition Jim Wyman has laid out in his 37 years at Moorpark,” said Justin Harris, a 23-year-old communications major.
Not only do the students have great hope, but so do the coaches.
“After 37 seasons, our expectations are very high. We have won the National Junior College Championships eight times, second 10 times, and third 11 times. We have never placed lower than eighth,” said team director and Coach Jim Wyman. “To keep that streak alive would be a success.”
There are 20 competitors on the team and 14 go to nationals. These students travel across country from Illinois to Portland. Putting in over eight hours a week in preparation, they are committed to winning.
“I put as many hours into this class as I do all my other classes combined,” said Jacob Crooks, a 20-year-old philosophy major.
The forensics team competes in over 13 tournaments a year. Each tournament consists of 12 events such as improvisational speeches, persuasive speeches, and interpretation of literature, but the team’s overwhelming favorite is debate.
“With debate you have to think in turn,” said Harris. “Other events you have time to think out what you want to say.”
The debate event is a two-on-two format. Each team gets 15 to 20 minutes to prepare beforehand. Topics can include anything from metaphors to sports.
Last year, Harris and Chris Maciel placed first place in debate at the fall championships, which includes schools from all of the western states. This year the tournament is at California Sate Long Beach from Dec. 5 through the Dec. 7.
With this being his 37th and final year, it is easy to say Coach Wyman will be missed.
“We have the best coaching staff out of all the community colleges in the country,” said Harris.
The satisfaction of seeing great growth as speakers and people to competitive success is what Wyman enjoyed during his time at Moorpark.
The Nationals are in April and the competition is fierce. Placing second in the nation for the second straight year just won’t do for the forensics team.