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Incline High School's five-year reign as We the People state champions came to an end last Saturday after faltering in the Nevada Second Congressional District-level competition, held in Truckee.
The season ends prematurely for the team that finished 11th in the nation last year. At the regional competition the IHS team came in third out of three with Damonte Ranch High School winning and Reed High School squeaking a one-point victory over IHS for the state's sole wild-card slot.
"I was shocked," said IHS senior Mac Layne. "I felt that we were just as prepared as past IHS teams, but Reed and Damonte just really stepped-up."
IHS government teacher and We The People coach Milton Hyams agreed with Layne's analysis, saying the upset had more to do with unexpectedly strong competition than anything else.
"Our kids did as well, as well as some of our past team who won," Hyams said. "Clearly, Damonte and Reed did better."
The competition wasn't a total bust for IHS, since one of its six unit-teams beat out the other schools in the Bill of Rights competition.
Layne, who was one of the unit-team's five members along with Sundance Bauman, Monique Castillo, Monica Ceragioli and Glenn Porter, said his team was well- prepared for the judges' cross examination of their testimony.
"They asked us 'what do you think of the soldier who was denied (permission to display) a wiccan symbol on his gravestone in a military cemetery,'" he said. "We explained that ... (the military was) denying him his free exercise rights and got lots of positive feedback from the judge."
Despite the disappointment, Hyams said the group more time to prepare for the American Government AP test in the spring.
IHS senior Madeleine Hale added that simply preparing for the competition had its own benefits.
"The difference with this class (compared to other civics classes) is that you have to learn the material so much quicker and more in-depth," she said. "I've learned as much at this point in the year (that other students) learn from an entire year of class."
Staff writer Tom Meyer can be reached at (775) 831-4666 ext. 112 or at tmeyer@tahoebonanza.com.
The season ends prematurely for the team that finished 11th in the nation last year. At the regional competition the IHS team came in third out of three with Damonte Ranch High School winning and Reed High School squeaking a one-point victory over IHS for the state's sole wild-card slot.
"I was shocked," said IHS senior Mac Layne. "I felt that we were just as prepared as past IHS teams, but Reed and Damonte just really stepped-up."
IHS government teacher and We The People coach Milton Hyams agreed with Layne's analysis, saying the upset had more to do with unexpectedly strong competition than anything else.
"Our kids did as well, as well as some of our past team who won," Hyams said. "Clearly, Damonte and Reed did better."
The competition wasn't a total bust for IHS, since one of its six unit-teams beat out the other schools in the Bill of Rights competition.
Layne, who was one of the unit-team's five members along with Sundance Bauman, Monique Castillo, Monica Ceragioli and Glenn Porter, said his team was well- prepared for the judges' cross examination of their testimony.
"They asked us 'what do you think of the soldier who was denied (permission to display) a wiccan symbol on his gravestone in a military cemetery,'" he said. "We explained that ... (the military was) denying him his free exercise rights and got lots of positive feedback from the judge."
Despite the disappointment, Hyams said the group more time to prepare for the American Government AP test in the spring.
IHS senior Madeleine Hale added that simply preparing for the competition had its own benefits.
"The difference with this class (compared to other civics classes) is that you have to learn the material so much quicker and more in-depth," she said. "I've learned as much at this point in the year (that other students) learn from an entire year of class."
Staff writer Tom Meyer can be reached at (775) 831-4666 ext. 112 or at tmeyer@tahoebonanza.com.
