Debaters Place Second in U.S. Competition

The speech and debate team for the South Orange County Community College District won second place at the national championships in Atlanta earlier this month.

The team, consisting of students from Saddleback and Irvine Valley colleges, won 24 awards.

“We were very proud of this team for many reasons,” said Gary Rybold, coach at Irvine Valley College. “Every member of the team received an award, a feat we haven’t accomplished in the last three years.”

Faculty members Larry Radden of Saddleback and Rybold and Chris Lowry of Irvine Valley coached the team, which included four students who placed among the top 18 in the country: Michelle Lehman, Eric Camiling, Michael Kindybal and Rick Travis.

Other winners were Michelle Dawson, Lisa Grossman, Amy O’Leary, Michele Doty, David Gibson, Henry-Scott Simpkins, Noelle Bird, David Watson, Jason Hughes and Janine Corwin.