Year after year, the forensics team continues to leave their tournaments with many awards.

For 14 years, coach Francesca Bishop, communications professor and director and coach of the forensics team, has had teams that continue to win gold medals, making her the most winning coach in EC history.

“I was national two-time forensics champion at ECC before becoming the director of forensics,” Bishop said.

Recently, EC crushed the competition in the first tournament of the season, according to the Daily Breeze.

EC came in first in the Community College Division at the Aztec Invitational at San Diego State University. Colleges and universities from California, Arizona, and Texas participated in the tournament. EC overpowered debaters in their fourth year of the competition, according to a press release.

During a competition November 9-10, EC won second place in the overall sweeps in San Diego at Grossmont College.

“We participate in at least one or two national debate competitions every year, and we have won at least one or both of the national competitions 12 times in the last 14 years,” Bishop said.

The EC speech and debate team is ranked No. 2 in the nation among community colleges as of last year, according to the Daily Breeze.

The forensics team holds fundraisers each year to offset travel expenses to attend debates.

The final fall championship tournament is Dec. 6-8 at California State University, Long Beach.