Forensics team wins championship

By Rachel Kramer

MHCC Nikki Fisher and Tori Zanzalari, MHCC forensics team members, were named national champions after defeating McKendree College on a 2-1 decision.
The MHCC Forensics team traveled to Gatlinburg, Tenn., to attend the Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament March 9–11. Representing MHCC were Fisher, Zanzalari, Sean Robinson and Natalie Fetsch.

Competing against 48 other community colleges and four-year universities, MHCC brought home several other awards, including the National Championship for Community Colleges. In addition, MHCC earned a tenth place finish for Overall Sweepstakes and a ninth place Debate Sweepstakes.

In Individual Events, Sean Robinson earned a sixth place finish in Extemporaneous out of 89 competitors, fourth in Informative Speaking, and was a quarterfinalist in Impromptu Speaking. Tori Zanzalari earned an excellent award in Poetry Interpretation and Natalie Fetch was a double Excellent award winner in Impromptu and Extemporaneous speaking.
According to a press release from Shannon Valdivia, director of forensics, “This was a great tournament for the team.” Next on the schedule for forensics is the NPDA National Parliamentary Debate Championships at Oregon State University. Representing MHCC will be the teams of Fetsch and Robinson and Jay Sabin and Max Stanaford.