Three fast-talking recent J.P. Taravella High School graduates placed as finalists at the 2009 National Forensic League National Tournament this summer.

John Mern, 18, was a finalist in the U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking event and teammates Brian Zakarin and Mickael Silangil, also 18, were finalists in the Public Forum Debate.

The accomplishment placed Mern sixth in the nation and Zakarin and Silangil fourth in the nation in their respective events.

``These are amazing students,'' said Taravella debate and forensics coach Beth Goldman. ``They were all very focused and motivated and they really gave 100 percent.''

Mern's event required each competitor -- about 300 of them -- to prepare an extemporaneous speech about a domestic topic. Using their accumulated files, including newspaper clippings of present and past events, students were given 30 minutes to formulate a five- to seven-minute speech.

Zakarin and Silangil's event required students to debate a controversial issue in a team format.

The duo prepared cases regarding relations between the United States and Cuba for both the pro and con sides.

The categories were two of 10 main events at the tournament, which attracted more than 3,500 students from all 50 states.

The Taravella students qualified for the national event after competing in a Broward County competition in March. The national win was something the three worked hard to achieve, said Goldman, who traveled to Birmingham, Ala., with the graduates in June.

``They researched every night, updated their debate cases and their game plan,'' she said.

All three competitors participated on the Taravella debate and forensics team, which is offered as a class, through all four years of high school. About 100 students enroll for the program at the Coral Springs school.

In addition to debate, the class also teaches skills in communication, writing and public speaking, and offers a wide range of topics, Goldman said.

``There is humorous, and dramatic interpretation,'' Goldman said. "It runs the gamut."

The three finalists, all from Coral Springs, are off to college in the fall.

Zakarin is going to the University of Pennsylvania; Silangil to American University in Washington, D.C., and Mern to Washington University in St. Louis.

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