Competition was at its best this weekend when the forensics team competed in the Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Association at Los Angeles Valley College.

This event was made even more challenging because there were two and four-year colleges debating at this tournament.

“This has been our most successful tournament so far this semester,” Stacie Leavitt, junior debater, said.

In addition, the forensics team was honored for the PSCFA All- American Academic Team.

“For the National Forensics Association Lincoln-Douglas debate, EC won three of the four spots,” Jose Crespo, political science major, said. “It was pretty exciting because it was a one-on-one debate.”

Debaters who competed in the informative speech either won an award or placed as a finalist, something that the team is looking to improve upon.

Katelyn Curran won first place and Shannon Aguirre and Stacie Leavitt both placed as finalists.

“We’re getting back on track because everyone is gaining better debate skills,” Michael Barryte, junior debater, said.

Michael Barryte came in sixth place in overall speaker awards, Lillian Cavalieri came in seventh, Joseph Evans came in eighth, and Bryan Lee came in ninth.

“We did better in this tournament because we had more practice in the debates,” Curran said. “The Tabor-Vetinsky Tournament was challenging because we just got back from the winter break.”

In the Lincoln-Douglas debate, debaters Vivian Amezuna, Jose Crespo, and Elysia Galindo-Ramirez ranked high at the PSCFA tournament making EC number three in overall sweepstakes.

Michael Barryte placed third in the junior debate for impromptu speaking.

Juan Victorio placed as a finalist for dramatic interpretation and Aguirre was a finalist in persuasive speaking.

EC’s forensics now team gets geared up for the next tournament, the California Community College Forensics Association in Concord , CA.

Since this tournament is the state nationals, debaters will prepare for new debating styles in Northern California.

“To get ready for the next competition, we need to stay more alert on political issues, listen to talk radio and watch CNN,” Barryte said. “I work with a great team and the coaches are more than willing to help us out. I really appreciate the coaches.”