Saddleback College competed at the Phi Rho Pi National Tournament from April 15th to April 21st at the Marriot, Los Angeles, California. The students earned a Silver Medal by placing 5th overall and 3rd in individual event sweepstakes. The students competing in Readers Theatres titled “Mouth of the Lion” directed by Larry Radden and “Bellicose” directed by Lucas Ochoa automatically advanced to finals. This particular tournament has not automatically advanced two shows from the same team since 1994. Our student Olivia Noceda earned 3rd Place Speaker of the Tournament, which she earned by advancing every speech she performed at the Phi Rho Pi Tournament to finals. Our Readers Theatre “Mouth of the Lion” also selected by the students to win the Huffer-Goldman award, which recognizes the theatre that represents collegial behavior. This is Saddleback’s fourth Huffer-Goldman win since 2006.
“This was a very special year for the Saddleback Speech Team,” Co-director, Larry Radden claimed, “Once in a blue moon, does an experience such as 2012-2013 happen to someone whose been connected to this activity for over 20 years. I’m officially calling the 2012-2013 Speech Season the year of the blue moon. Not only was this the most talented group of students I had the honor of working with, they’re all so precious, sincere, passionate and lovely human beings.” Co-director, Heidi Ochoa, disclosed “When you work with students who are team players, you don’t mind working every day; and we did. The heart and synergy of this team propelled us in directions that we have never reached before. It is rare to watch an entire team fighting themselves–looking their weaknesses in the eyes—with the intent to improve who they are as speakers and who they are as people.” Coach Steve Robertson stated “This year was a tremendous year, and Nationals was no exception. I was proud of the hard work that the students put into this activity this year, and I think it paid off in our performance. Listening to the students talk about the experience, I know that they found it richly rewarding, which is really why we do this activity. I can only hope that the squads in the coming years will be as dedicated as this one.”
This year, Saddleback’s teams’ efforts boosted its reputation. Coaches from across the nation approached coaches Lucas Ochoa and Larry Radden requesting advice about Readers Theatre. The shows created the kind of “buzz” that intimidated competitors and attracted large audiences. Coach, Lucas Ochoa states, “I’m incredibly proud of this year. Our Readers Theatres made history at State Champs and Nationals. It was neat to hear coaches from around the country talking about our shows.” Heidi Ochoa notes, “My colleagues and students impressed the nation with artistic advocacy. Our audiences laughed and cried last week. Our students received standing ovations. As demonstrated in compliments given by participants of the tournament, Saddleback coaches and students together create quality speeches. We owe our successes to our President Tod Burnett, Dean Bart McHenry, Associated Student Government and our chief organizers Joyce Speakman and Jackie Zimbalist.”
The coaching staff unilaterally agrees that this year was the most emotionally rewarding year of their careers both as student competitors and coaches. The students who are now transferring to colleges will be missed. They will be attending: San Bernardino, UCLA, Humboldt, and Berkeley. The legacy they are leaving behind has changed the culture and trajectory of the Saddleback Forensic Team forever.
Dr. Tod Burnett, president of Saddleback College, stated, “Congratulations to our hardworking and talented students for their success at nationals. Each year I am thoroughly impressed by the caliber of our forensics team and know that the guidance they get from our wonderful coaches will only lead them to great things here at Saddleback and beyond.”
Bart McHenry, Dean of Fine Arts and Media Technology, stated, “I am so pleased with the outstanding results our speech and debate team had at Phi Rho Pi. This end-of-the-year accomplishment makes me enthusiastic to see what they can accomplish next year. I am sure that next year will be the team to beat at Nationals.”
Tournament Results:
3rd Place in Individual Events
5th Place overall in the Country
Olivia Noceda
Gold Medalist, Dramatic Interpretation
Silver Medalist, DUO Interpretation
Bronze Medalist, Speech to Entertain
3rd overall Speaker of the Tournament
Dennis Meador
Silver Medalist, DUO Interpretation
Jackson Spencer
Bronze Medalist, Dramatic Interpretation
Bronze Medalist: DUO Interpretation
Carolina Beyer-Flores
Bronze Medalist, DUO Interpretation
Brooke Howell
Bronze Medalist, Persuasive Speaking
Bronze Medalist, Communication Analysis
Bellicose Readers Theatre
Starring: Carolina Beyer-Flores, Melissa Armstrong, Cece Melody, and Solana Price
Silver Medalist
Mouth of the Lion Readers Theatre
Starring: Olivia Noceda, Dennis Meador, Jackson Spencer
Silver Medalist
Huffer-Goldman Award
The Saddleback Team acknowledges their friends/colleagues and students at Irvine Valley College. This year, IVC’s coaching staff, Edwin Tiongson, Gary Rybold, Liza Rios, Jennifer Page, Kevin Calderwood, John Lewellen, Matt Volz, Katrina Taylor, Bill Neesen and Jules Throckmorton-French grew their team into the large-school division and earned a Gold Medal by placing 2nd overall! Saddleback looks forward to the moment when it is just IVC and Saddleback standing at an award ceremony—winning as a district together.
The Saddleback Forensics Team started in the 1970s and prides itself on offering students the ability to create innovative arguments for future writing and speaking engagements to strengthen their critical thinking skills and to better communicate with others. On the forensics team, students write, rehearse, and perform at 6-7 tournaments against students from Universities and Community Colleges to qualify for the national tournament. The students representing Saddleback at the national tournament have placed above several competitors representing institutions throughout the year, including: Concordia University, Point Loma, California State University, Los Angeles, California State University, Long Beach, and UCLA.
Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community. Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers over 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals. For more information, please visit www.saddleback.edu and for Fine Arts information, please visit www.saddleback.edu/arts.
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Nina Welch
Fine Arts Public Information Officer
Saddleback College
28000 Marguerite Parkway
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
www.saddleback.edu/arts
