NOVA Forensics Team Brings Home the Hardware

NOVA’s Forensics team knows how to talk its way to the top! Students from three campuses — Alexandria, Annandale and Manassas — represented the College with pride on Sunday, January 21, the official start of NOVA’s 12th Speech and Debate season.

We are excited to announce this year’s team members: Denny Martinez (third year), Cara Hillocks-Martinez (second year), Barry (Trey) Phillips III (first year) and Joel Bucarey (first year). 

The team competed in Debate, Limited Preparation and Interpretation categories, ultimately advancing to four final rounds across nine events.

Martinez and Hillocks-Martinez took home a first-place finish in Duo Interpretation. Martinez also placed third in Prose Interpretation, while Hillocks-Martinez was the Prose Interpretation champion. 

Bucarey and Phillips took first and second in Dramatic Interpretation, respectively. Bucarey also took second in Extemporaneous Speaking. 

In individual sweepstakes, Bucarey took home third-place honors and Hillocks-Martinez took second overall. NOVA, the only community college at the tournament, placed second overall in the team sweepstakes.

Team co-directors Amy Hileman and Jeremy Hodgson are incredibly proud of their competitors and look forward to competing in California and Nevada later this season. 

For more information about NOVA’s Forensics team, contact AHileman@nvcc.edu or JHodgson@nvcc.edu. 

Submitted by:
Amy Hileman, MA-CST, AHileman@nvcc.edu