Speech and Debate Team Comes up Big at Season Openers
From left to right: Ashley Pham, Annie Wood, Deion Samuels, & Micalah Galvin
The Fullerton College Speech and Debate Team participated in a full slate of season opener tournaments at the Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Association’s Warm-Up Tournament at El Camino College, the Sunset Cliffs Tournament at Point Loma Nazarene University, and the Collegiate Public Forum Debate Opener hosted by the University of Kentucky during the month of October.
Team highlights include, first-time debater Micalah Galvin placing second in the novice Lincoln-Douglas debate, and Jamie De La Torre finishing fourth place in novice persuasive speaking, competing against rivals from Pasadena City College and San Diego Mesa College.
On Oct. 2, six Fullerton College students competed in a variety of events ranging from novice informative and persuasive speaking to varsity after-dinner and impromptu speaking. Students spoke on a range of topics. This was the first time Fullerton College students competed in an in-person setting since March 2020.
Then on Oct. 8, four Fullerton College students competed in the novice public forum debate at the season opener of the academic year. The public forum debate team acquired wins over the University of Wyoming and California State University, Northridge. The debate topic at this tournament focused on Supreme Court reform following the controversial Dobbs decision this summer.
Five additional debaters traveled to San Diego on Oct. 21 to compete in the Lincoln-Douglas debate which focused on important election reforms. Galvin was in the championship round of beginning debate and lost to Concordia University. At the end of the debate, Galvin said, “I thought I was ready, but there is definitely more to get ready for next time.” Even though Fullerton College came up a little short of a tournament championship, teammate Matt Stroud expressed how proud he was of Galvin’s final-round effort.
All 15 students, who competed at their first tournament of the academic year, expressed enthusiasm and excitement about attending tournament competitions again. The speech and debate team, which now meets in person, has seen its highest numbers of enrollment since the Spring 2020 semester with 18 active members. The team welcomes future students to enroll in COMM 138 Forensics during the Spring 2023 semester.
The team resumes competition again on Nov. 5 at the CSU Northridge Robert Barbara Invitational and on Nov. 6 at the Crossman Invitational hosted by El Camino College. The Fullerton College Speech and Debate team is coached by Toni Nielson and Jeff Samano.
Header photo from left to right: Jordan Wells, Rosemary Han, Dominic Craddock, Evelyn Garcia, Jamie De La Torre, and Kendall Montano
