Reliving the events of Sept. 11, 2001, the award winning MHCC Forensics Team honored the women heroes of the attacks on the World Trade Center towers Thurday in the Town and Gown Room.

Coach Shannon Valdivia said the readings came from a book, “Women of Ground Zero.” The team read excerpts which told the stories of many women. Some were firefighters, others police women, EMTs, military personnel, 911 dispatchers and Port Authority officers, expressing the diversity of these women.

The more than 35 in attendance were held rapt as each speaker told the story of one woman who made a difference that fateful day. Some stories were of survivors, and others remembered the fallen.

One police officer who was injured when the second tower fell was quoted as saying, “Would I have chosen not to have gone that day? No, I still would have gone.”

This event follows on the heels of a victory at the Western States Communication Association Tournament in Pleasanton, Calif. on Feb. 18 and 19. The team placed first for community colleges and fourth overall at the “Bloodbath at the Beach.”

After competing against more than 30 colleges and universities, William Blackmore, who took first in the junior informative, said he wasn’t surprised by the win, but Valdivia said, “It was a surprise, but it was long overdue.”

Blackmore said, “We’ve been working hard.”

The team views this tournament as a precursor for nationals. “I think on the national level we will be very competitive. I think the other teams need to fear us,” said Valdivia. “Since we got to feel what it is like to be on top again this year, I don’t think we’re going to let it go.”

The team was represented at the Western states competition by Sean Partch, David Childers, Eon LaJoie, Shane Hinton, William Blackmore and Dean Mundell.

MHCC also finished third overall for community colleges in the Northwest Forensics Conference year-long sweepstakes. Their next tournament will be at Portland State University March 5 and 6.