The Lower Columbia College Fighting Smelt Speech & Debate Team took third place in overall team sweepstakes out of 23 competing colleges at the Aztec Invitational Tournament, hosted by San Diego State University. This result shows that the Fighting Smelt stack up competitively against top programs from around the country as they prepare for end of season national tournaments.

Ilinca Slabu of Longview won the Gold award and was named top speaker in open IPDA debate. Slabu also finished fifth in persuasive speaking, fourth in informative speaking, and eighth in extemporaneous speaking. Cumulatively, these results made her the runner up for the competitive Dr. Paul Gaske Award, which is presented to the top individual competitor in both speech and debate events at the Aztec Invitational.

Molly Mahoney of Kelso won the Bronze award and was named fifth speaker in open IPDA debate. Mahoney also finished third in impromptu speaking, fourth in persuasive speaking, and sixth in after dinner speaking.

Reagan Gosselin of Longview was the novice champion of informative speaking and novice co-champion of persuasive speaking. Gosselin also competed in IPDA debate.

Jagger Norris of Longview was the novice champion of extemporaneous speaking. Norris also competed in IPDA debate.

Penelope Anderson of Napavine placed third in novice extemporaneous speaking and fourth in novice informative speaking. Anderson also competed in IPDA debate and was named second novice speaker.

Nyssa Miller of Toledo placed fourth in novice impromptu speaking. Miller also competed in extemporaneous speaking and IPDA debate.

Also representing Lower Columbia College at the Aztec Invitational was Destiny Losolla of Longview.

Next up for LCC Speech and Debate is the Eddy Shell Invitational debate tournament, hosted by Bossier Parish Community College (LA), February 19-21.