On Feb. 4, Amador’s Competition Civics team traveled to Sacramento to compete in the state We The People competition. Over the course of the day, California’s most successful Competition Civics teams battled for one of two bids to the national competition in DC in April, with Amador winning second place overall and Foothill winning first.

“We were all so nervous because we wanted to qualify for nationals at the end of the day. When our team was called up as second place, we were silent for a second, and then we realized we were going to nationals and started cheering,” said competition civics member Simran Pandey (‘23). 

The team had been preparing for months for the state competition following Amador’s triumph in the district and regional tournaments in December. 

“In the three weeks leading up to states, all of the units were meeting up with their alumnus once every couple of days to practice, so it was basically how we prepared for district but more intense,” said Pandey. 

The tournament being in Sacramento meant that it was the first time Amador’s team competed outside of Pleasanton. Despite all their dedication and practice, come competition day, nerves in the team were running high.

“There was a lot of pressure because Amador pretty much always makes nationals,” said competition civics member Louisa Landhuis (‘23). 

Each unit was expected to deliver four minute speeches, or testimonies, and then answer questions from a judging panel for eight minutes. These academics, some having doctorates in related subjects, posed questions the team had never seen before.

“The questions were more complicated, and, for my unit personally, the judges asked us questions that were unexpected, but we had a lot of evidence in our research bank, so we just prepared the best we could,” said Landhuis. 

From just local teachers having judged past regional and district competitions, the judges at the state competition were more diverse bringing in unfamiliar faces and exciting circumstances and experiences.

“At the state level we see academics come in as judges alongside local teachers, volunteer attorneys and graduates of the program. It was exciting, [competing is] always exciting. It’s something I never get used to because it’s always a new group of students, and their enthusiasm is contagious,” said competition civics teacher Stacey Sklar. 

With nationals in April and Foothill’s Competition Civics team having already snatched first place, Amador’s team is hungry for a chance at revenge.

“Foothill won first place, and we were proud that a Pleasanton team won, but there were definitely some mixed emotions on the team. Some were really happy that we made it to nationals, and others were really upset that we hadn’t placed first. Getting beat by Foothill was the perfect motivation. We still have our eyes on the prize,” said Pandey.