Forensics team places third in nationals
The Moorpark College Forensics team followed up its recent state championship with a third-place finish at the NationaChampionships in HoustonTexas, on April 9 through 14.

This is the 11th time the team has placed third at Nationals and the 28th time it has placed in the top three in its 35-year history, a record that is unparalleled nationwide.

Orange Coast College won the tournament. Second place went to the 2005 champion Southeastern Illinois College which edged Moorpark by 2.5 points.

The following students won medals at National: Jamie Azar, bronzes in poetry and reader's theater; Kim Acquarelli, bronze in reader's theater; Nichol Costa, silvers in communication analysis and informative; Tenaya Erich, bronze in communication analysis; Eric Evelhock, gold in parliamentary team debate, silvers in impromptu and extemporaneous; Carly Gray, bronze in communication analysis; Jill Jacobs, bronzes in prose, program oral interpretation and reader's theater; Kristen King, gold in program oral interpretation and bronze in reader's theater; Alex LaraBriseno, gold in parliamentary team debate; Jena Meinecke, gold in parliamentary team debate and silver in impromptu; Tami Seeger, gold in communication analysis and bronze in informative; and Matthew Strawbridge, golds in parliamentary team debate and extemporaneous.

Brittany Brodbeck also participated in the tournament.

The team is coached by Jim Wyman, Rolland Petrello and Jill McCall.

Moorpark College last won the National title in 2004 and has won the California State Championships three of the past four years.