Speech and Debate Team wins First Place Sweepstakes

The Modesto Junior College Speech and Debate team travelled to Reno, NV on October 19-21, 2018 where they scooped up First Place Overall Sweepstakes at their third tournament of the season. 

Ten students from MJC competed in debate, platform speaking, oral interpretation and limited preparation events, bringing home 26 individual awards. Competitors also earn sweepstakes points when they break into final rounds and MJC’s success also led to another major team award – Second Place Individual Events Sweepstakes. 

In Lincoln-Douglas debate, Daylon Hawn took first place in the novice division. Hawn was also recognized with the second place speaker award, which is based on a student’s overall speaking ability and is calculated separately from their wins and losses. Gavin Gould took second place in the junior division of Lincoln-Douglas. In parliamentary debate, the partnership of Alexis Gerardo and Sarah Landeros took semi-finalist awards in the novice division. 

MJC also took home a trove of medals in individual events. This tournament was a “swing,” meaning students complete two full tournaments over the course of the weekend. Results from day one are as follows:  Lindsey Vander Lugt took third place in novice prose; Kendra McKinley earned a finalist award in open poetry; McKinley and her partner Sabrinna Gonzales took third place in open duo; Vander Lugt took second place in novice impromptu; McKinley took first place and Victor Lumidao took third place in open Informative; Vander Lugt took second place in novice persuasive and Lumidao took first place In open persuasive.

Results from day two are as follows:  Jacqueline In took first place and Vander Lugt took second place in novice prose; McKinley took second place in open poetry; McKinley and Gonzales took third place in open duo; Gonzales took second place in open impromptu; McKinley took first place, Gerardo took second place and Lumidao was a finalist in open informative; Landeros took first place and Vander Lugt took second place in novice persuasive; while in the open division, Lumidao took third place.

Vander Lugt was also recognized with the Top Novice award at the tournament, meaning out of all the novice competitors she earned the most sweepstakes points as an individual.

Coach Taure Shimp said, “These students worked hard to get where they are; it’s incredibly rewarding to work with individuals who are so dedicated to their craft and so motivated to see progress.”

On November 2-4, the MJC Speech and Debate team travels to Stockton for another round of competition. For more information about the team including travel schedule and results, visit the website www.MJCForensics.org.