The Moorpark College Speech and Debate Team, also called the forensics team, placed second at the National Championships held in Costa Mesa, California that ended April 10, for the third year in a row.

This is the 13 second-place finish for Moorpark overall and has 36 top-three finishes in its 45-year history, said Rolland Petrello, director of forensics and chair of the Communication Studies, Theatre and FTVM Department.

Donna Lamb, a team member who won a silver medal in Informative Speaking, said it was a strong team effort.

“Everyone played a pivotal role in our success,” Lamb said. “This was my second year at Phi Rho Pi and it was a wonderful experience. The team did outstanding!”

Individual Highlights include Nine Gold medal winners:

Sophie Honeyman (Soph) in Persuasive Speaking

Nick Lawrence (Soph) in Extemporaneous Speaking

Steven Suarez (Fr) in Speech to Entertain

Nick Lawrence and Elizabeth Kim (Soph) tied for Gold in International Public Debate

The teams of Nick Lawrence & Vladimir Kremenetski (Soph) and Elizabeth Kim & Ryan Corso (Soph) tied for Gold in Parliamentary Debate

Other Medals won include:

Sophie Honeyman – Silver in Informative Speaking and Bronze in Communication Analysis

Vladimir Kremenetski – Bronze Medals in Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, and Lincoln/Douglas Debate

Donna Lamb (Soph) – Silver in Informative Speaking

Ryan Corso – Bronze in Impromptu Speaking

Katie Gerbasi (Soph) – Silver in Informative Speaking and International Public Debate

Drake Blaisdell (Fr) – Silver in International Public Debate, Bronze in Extemporaneous and Impromptu Speaking

Lauren Camorlinga (Fr) – Bronze in Persuasive Speaking

Dani Platz (Fr) – Prose Interpretation

Next up for the team, Sophie Honeyman represent the state of California at the Interstate Oratorical Association Championship in Omaha, Neb. from April 22 to 24. The competition is the oldest speech contest in the U.S. with this year marking the 134 year. Honeyman is the 11 Moorpark College student to win this honor, said Petrello.