Moraine Valley Speech And Debate Team Unstoppable In Fall Season

PALOS HILLS, IL — The Moraine Valley Community College Speech and Debate Team closed out its fall 2024 semester undefeated, taking first place at four competitions. Team members hail from Orland Park, Blue Island, Chicago, Bridgeview, Chicago Ridge, Justice and Hometown.

The team started the 2024-25 season off by winning the McHenry County College Speech Tournament, which was held in Crystal Lake on Oct. 12.

Next, the college hosted the 2024 Moraine Valley Appelquist Speech Tournament on Oct. 25 and Oct. 26. Over 125 competitors from 19 schools from throughout the Midwest competed at the Halloween-themed tournament, with Moraine Valley’s team winning the two-day series of competitions. Ten team members won in various categories such as Speech to Entertain, Persuasion, Oral Interpretation, Novice Poetry and Dramatic Interpretation.

“Running a tournament of this size is quite an undertaking,” said John Nash, professor of Speech/Communications and one of the team’s coaches. “But the team was excited to serve as hosts for the tournament which featured candy and coaches wearing costumes.”

“It was such a fun time seeing so many teams from the Midwest come together,” MVCC team captain Aaron Lopez said.

The team next conquered Highland Community College in Freeport on Nov. 16 for the third competition and again took first place at the tournament.

The final fall tournament was the Shadwell-Dittus Elgin Community College Speech Tournament, held Dec. 6 and 7, at Elgin Community College. The Moraine Valley team dominated the competition and received the First-Place Tournament Champion Trophy and the First-Place Quality Champion Trophy.

The following Moraine Valley team members took top three positions in these competition categories:

Informative Speaking
Kandyce Swain, of Blue Island, first place
Julian Zubrzycki, of Chicago, second place

Speech to Entertain
Aaron Lopez, of Bridgeview, first place
Marel Doon, of Chicago Ridge, second place

Program of Interpretation
Mariam Chuli, of Bridgeview, first place
Marel Doon, third place

Prose Interpretation
Julian Zubrzycki, second place

Dramatic Interpretation
Mustafa Hammo, of Justice, first place

Poetry Interpretation
Mustafa Hammo, first place

Persuasive Speaking
Aaron Lopez, first place
Juno Granados, of Hometown, third place

Impromptu Speaking
Omar Uwainat, of Burbank, second place