Emma Davis, senior, and Esperanza
Spalding, winner of the Grammy for Best
New Artist, partner and perform at the i
Grammy Awards.
1
— page 5
Spring sports brave seasonal rains on the
road to new records. Find out who wilt be their
biggest match-ups this season.
Sparkle ponies? Hide and seek clubs? Put
a bird on it? Learn how to be a hipster by
I
watching Portfandia.
J
March 2011 - Volume 99, issue 5
Junior Mock Trial Team places second at State Championship
C arolyn C ruze ________________
After a heated competition,
eight students from the West
Linn High Junior Mock Trial
team placed second at the
State Championships. Both
the senior and junior teams
spent March 11-12 competing
in three trials and then the two
presentation and memorable
themes.
On Feb. 26 the senior
team placed first and the
junior team placed third in
the region at the Clackamas
Courthouse. After defeating
their opponents during
the first two rounds, they
Photo courtesy of Matt Kellogg
Tatiana Jungerman and Chris Del Bene, members of the West Linn
Mock Trial team, perfect their arguments in preparation for the State
Championships. At the March 11-12 event, the junior Mock Trial team
placed second after a first and third finish at Districts by the seniors
and the juniors, respectively.
top teams moved on to the
final round. The final round,
against Catlin Gabel, proved
to be extremely well matched,
with Catlin Gabel placing first
by a one vote difference.
"Just in that day alone
we as a team improved
immensely. Next year we'll
come back better than ever!"
Ailish Duff, junior attorney,
said.
The 16 students from the
two West Linn High Mock
Trial teams also beat regional
competitors, becoming the
only school to bring both
teams to State. Divided into
a junior and senior team,
these students have spent
months striving to recreate the
perfect trial; a combination
of strong arguments, superb
competed against each other
during the third round to
determine the champions.
Both teams continued on to
State on March 11-12.
Each team has four
students that make up
the Prosecution and four
students that comprise
the Defense. Within these
teams, each student has two
responsibilities: one which
requires them to argue the law
as an attorney, and the other
which requires them to act as
a witness.
Andrew Daniels, senior
attorney, is playing the part
of J. Byrd, a witness, as well
as delivering the opening
statement for the Prosecution.
"It's really great to give my
opinions on both sides of the
case, it makes mock trial more
interesting," Daniels said.
"Plus, it's really fun being a
witness, I like being crossed!"
While the Prosecution is
delivering its argument as
lawyers, the Defense is acting
as the Prosecution witnesses
and vice versa. Deliberately
choosing to format the team in
this way, Matt Kellogg, Mock
Trial coach and Honors Law
teacher, said that this format
ensures that every individual
will be involved in every
competition. Additionally, it
helps students understand
how to answer questions as a
witness in a stronger manner.
To prepare for competition,
the teams meet four days
a week from 6:30-9 p.m.
At these meetings, several
attorneys visit to critique
content, give presentational
advice and explain the court
proceedings. "Attorneys
not only tell me what isn't
working, but they help me
identify the problem and give
me advice on how to fix it,"
Hannah Beth Gilbert, junior
attorney, said.
Kellogg and Tiffany
Davidson, a frequent trial
counselor, dedicate hours of
their time to explaining what
is known to lawyers as the
Federal Rules of Evidence. The
Federal Rules of Evidence,
or FRE's, are the basic rules
that determine what evidence
will be allowed into a trial
and what evidence will be
kept out. Some objections are
unexpected, but if the FRE's
are argued well, students
score more points. "You win
mock trial in those off script
moments," Kellogg said.
Besides studying the law
itself, students also learn how
to effectively present their
arguments to a jury. "I've
Students honored at CREST-Jane Goodall Science
Symposium, continue on to State, Internationals
M ary E arp _______________ ___
The CREST-Jane Goodall
Science Symposium
showcased the projects of 115
W LHS students. 50 projects
were honored at an awards
ceremony on March 4.
Ann Bem ert, senior,
and Spencer Chang, junior,
advanced to the Intel
International Science and
Engineering Fair in Los
Angeles, Calif, from May 8
to May 13 to showcase their
projects at the international
fair and compete with other
high school students from
around the country. Along
with the students advancing
to the international fair, all
students who either placed
in their category or received
Correction
The All-State photo on the front page o f the February issue of
Amplifier was taken by Hyunjae Kim. We apologize for the error.
an honorable mention are
proceeding to the state
level competition, the Intel
Northwest Science Expo,
to compete against other
Oregonians.
Bemert's project on the
implications of biocontrol
concerning blackberries
placed first in the Life and
Environmental Sciences
Category.
m ____________________________________
continued on page 5
learned to speak so much
better and more effectively,"
Daniels said. Ultimately, the
mock trial team strives to
successfully recreate a trial
that imitates the U.S. court
justice system.
Along with the
memorization and
presentation aspects of the
trial, a huge part of being an
attorney is learning how to
persuade and direct witnesses.
According to Gilbert, one
of the most difficult parts
of cross examination is
learning how to control and
manipulate the witness.
"Every witness is going
to use the testimony to their
benefit but in very different
ways," Gilbert said. Tactics
used by witnesses can
arguably make or break a
case, because the witness
can ultimately decide what
evidence does and does not
enter into the trial. Agreeing
with Gilbert, Daniels said
"I just try and keep my
composure and find ways to
break [the opposing side's]
flow."
Mock Trial is the ultimate
extracurricular activity,
because it combines fast
thinking with persuasion and
delivery, according to Kellogg.
Despite the months of work
put in by each student, "It
is so rewarding to see the
product of our work and have
the opportunity to present in
front of a judge," Gilbert said.
"Besides the fact that I
enjoy the success, it is really
about being a part of a
family," Kellogg said.
Students earn awards at
Regional Acting Competition,
TRL Solo Contest
Ten WLHS Thespians were recognized for their acting skills at
the Oregon Thespian NE Regional Acting Competition held at
Rex Putnam High School on Feb. 5. All of the WLHS actors who
competed finished in the top 40 percent. The following individu
als won awards:
Went to State on March 31 to audition/compete fo r State Showcase
(top 10 percent o f region):
Solo Acting - Anna Stapleton
Solo Musical - Lisa Wang
Small Group Musical - Anna Stapleton, Lisa Wang, Samantha
Forsey, Caroline Hitesman, and Sophia Starks-Madsen
Regional Finalists (top 20 percent o f region):
Solo Musical - Reed Sturtevant
Solo Acting - Peter Bonoff, Lisa Wang , and Sydney Emett
(novice category)
Duo Dramatic (novice) - Melanie Raidl and Debora-Michele
Grote Urtubey
The Three Rivers League Solo Contest also took place Feb. 7. The
following students were honored in their respective categories:
League Champions:
Rachel Metzler, Flute
Troy Cornelius, Bassoon
Alyssa Walhood, French Horn
Joonas Lemetyinen, Trombone
Keven Kraus, Baritone
Georgia Muggli, String Bass
The following students were also named District Champions at
the District Solo Contest on March 5:
Rachel Metzler, Flute
Sarah Schultz, Alto Saxophone
Joshua Grelewicz, Tenor Saxophone
Anthony Glausi, Trumpet
Alyssa Walhood, French Horn
Jonathan Macemon, Mallet Percussion
Samantha Ing, Violin
Georgia Muggli, Bass