The McHenry County College (MCC) Speech and Debate team recently brought home silver and bronze medals from the 2025 Phi Rho Pi National Tournament held in Norfolk, VA.
Medalists were led by team captain Mark Luchsinger (McHenry), who won Silver for International Public Debate and Bronze for Speaking to Entertain. MCC was the only school from Illinois who advanced a student to the final round in debate.
Winning Bronze for International Public Debate were Caden Kotecki (Harvard) and Calvin Hamill (Spring Grove). Also attending were Elsbeth Haylock (Hebron), Sabrina Nardi (McHenry), and Clara Solak (Crystal Lake).
MCC’s Speech and Debate program director Bonnie Gabel, who is retiring this year, said, “I feel great about the 23 years spent building this program and I’m confident it will continue to be successful. The talent of our students along with the strong support from the college has proven to be a winning combination.”
Gabel also received the Collie-Taylor Coaches Fellowship Award, which is voted on by students.
“This award was especially meaningful to me as 50 years ago, I competed at my first and only Phi Ro Pi national tournament as a student from the College of DuPage—and the namesake of this award, Jim Collie, was my coach.”
For additional information about the Speech and Debate team, please contact bgabel@mchenry.edu.