Columbia College Debaters Defend State Championship

Columbia, Ca — Columbia College successfully defended their state title crown at the 2008 California Community College Speech and Debate Championship held over the weekend in Concord.

Columbia captured a gold medal in the team sweepstakes, an award given to the team that accumulates the most success as a squad at the tournament. Columbia had seven of their eight entrants advance to the final “medal” rounds.

According to the school, the teams of Zachary Macbeth and Trevor Wittke, along with Caitlin Macbeth and Danielle Carmack topped the field of 64 teams and were each awarded gold medals in parliamentary team debate. Cody Cooper was awarded a silver medal in individual parliamentary debate after losing a close round to Modesto Junior College´s Jon Cottrell.

Taureanna Shimp received a gold medal in impromptu speaking. Caitlin Macbeth and Danielle Carmack also advanced to the elimination rounds and added to Columbia´s overall score and successful title defense.

Written by BJ Hansen