May 18, 2018 Vol. 16 • Issue 15 ROUNDTABLE NEWS AND VIEWS FOR AND FROM KNIGHTS Volleyball Mock Trial Knights Win Knights Sweep SIS in CCOPSSA Major Award at Nationals by Roselyn Monroyo for the Saipan Tribune

Third time’s the charm for Mt. Carmel School, as it finally won a championship after beating Saipan International School in the boys high school finale of the 2017-2018 Commonwealth Coalition of Private Schools Association Volleyball League last Friday at the “Kind, generous, and genuine.” These were just responded to many questions and challenges Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. some of the words used by judges and about the power-matching system.” The The Knights, who settled for runner-up competitors to describe Mount Carmel School’s organization added, “It was Larry’s tenacity and honors in the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 Mock Trial Knights as they represented the love for the program that kept him coming back seasons, made sure the title won’t slip away Northern Marianas at the 2018 National High year after year.” Bakko passed away in 2013 after a from their hands this year as they took only School Mock Trial Championship held in Reno, battle with cancer. two sets to down the Geckos in the Nevada. In praising the team, the national In addition to winning the Larry Bakko championship game, 25-10, 25-18. organization presented the team with the Larry Award, the Mock Trial Knights fared well in four Francis San Nicolas-coached Mt. Carmel Bakko Award for Professionalism and Civility, the contentious rounds. In all four rounds, the team eased its way to victory in the opening set, as only team award presented at the competition faced states who had previously won the national the Knights won the battle on the net, drew other than the championship title. competition, including Nebraska (1985 and 2015 several points from Seok Jun Yun’s powerful “We bring home this award on behalf of the national champions), Georgia (1995, 1999, 2007, serves and booming spikes, and capitalized entire Northern Marianas, proud of the island 2008 national champions), South Carolina (1989 on SIS’ errors. hospitality we shared with all competitors at this and 2004 national champions), and Wisconsin The Knights opened a 17-7 lead in the prestigious competition,” said lead coach and (1989 national champions). All four teams have first set after Eric Kiser blocked a spike from school president, Galvin Deleon Guerrero. “This also regularly placed in the top 10 since the start the Geckos. With her team falling behind, SIS award represents who we are as a school and as of the national competition in 1984. After all the coach Mili Saiki called timeout and that as a Commonwealth,” he added. rounds, the Mock Trial Knights won 4 ballots with somehow stopped the bleeding for the The Larry Bakko award was created by the a score of 1000, and ranked 34th in the nation, Geckos, as Mt. Carmel had a wide serve, National High School Mock Trial Championship to besting a dozen other teams, including mock trial awarding a point to its opponent. highlight the importance of professionalism, powerhouses like Indiana (2009 and 2011 However, the Knights quickly retaliated civility, integrity, and fair play, both inside and national champions), Hawaii (2005 2nd place), with Jayden Tenorio converting off his spike to outside the courtroom. The award is nominated and South Carolina. spark a short 6-1 scoring run, which the MCS by and voted on by all teams at the end of the The team’s performance was especially senior also ended with a block off A.J. competition. impressive considering how many newcomers Hudkins’ kill. Hudkins then made up for a The award is named after Larry Bakko, a were on the team. Of the nine Knights that had botched attempt when he went for another kill pioneer in mock trial who developed the official roles in the national competition, only and this time, it landed on an empty spot on program’s current scoring system and contributed three had ever competed at the national level. the Knights side. to the continuing success of the program. As the Moreover, the competition was a first for attorneys Still, the Knights led by a big margin, national organization put it, “He strove to perfect Justin Ocampo, Angelo Manese, and Reica 23-10, and Yun moved their squad closer to his scoring system, he worried about judging Ramirez, who had never competed as attorneys victory in the opening set when he went for a panels, he stressed over the capacity of the either at the local or the national level prior to this thunderous spike, which SIS defenders failed courtrooms for the size of the spectator groups, year. to contain. Mt. Carmel then closed out the first he provided statistical analysis and frequently set when Kiser served and the Geckos failed to hold after three touches. Continued on back Continued on back

Mount Carmel School Home of the Knights May 18, 2018 Vol. 16 • Issue 15 Announcements Volleyball Mock Trial continued fom font continued fom font Pre-Registration for 2017-2018 In lieu of the traditional scheduling fair, next week, With SIS in danger of losing its title bid anew, high school students will be able to pre-register for When asked about what it was like to the top-ranked squad played better in the second set, their 2017-2018 courses. Only students who are compete at such a high level, Ocampo said, “At standing toe-to-toe with the Mt. Carmel in the opening currently paid and registered with the Business Office stages of that period and behind by only one, 10-11, first it was nerve wracking. But, as I settled into will be allowed to pre-register. after scoring two straight points off a drop at the the role more, I realize how much fun it was to frontline and the Knights’ wayward spike. Thank You! apply my knowledge of the rules with my own However, Mt. Carmel prevailed in the next A big thank you to everyone who contributed to style and presence to verbally spar with these exchange, 12-7, with the lanky Yu teaming up with Mount Carmel School’s participation in the 2018 Tenorio and Kiser in handing the Knights the points really smart people.” He added, “And as hard as it Marianas March Against Cancer. Your efforts not only and SIS committing costly turnovers. Yu scored the last was, I was proud that we held our own against helped MCS win the Most Money Raised award in the point for the Knights for their 23-18 lead and Mt. Napu Category, but will also help raise awareness such great teams.” Carmel went on to finish off SIS and secure the and find a cure. Special recognition goes to our The team expressed its appreciation to division title after the Geckos’ back-to-back errors. The Student Council, under the leadership of STUCO first one came from Sanchez, who attempted to toss everyone that supported it along the way, President Erika Mendiola, for facilitating our school’s the ball, but the leather slipped away from his hands including its attorney coach Garth Backe, participation. GO KNIGHTS!!! and dropped on the floor. The second and final one Governor Ralph Torres, attorney Vince Torres, the that sealed the doom for SIS was from Hyun Jun PTO End of Year Carnival CNMI Public School System, Tim Thornburgh, Chung, who went for a soft tap, but was deflected by Celebrate the end of the school year with the Mount the net. Dencio Manglona, the CNMI Judiciary, the CNMI Carmel School Parent Teacher Organization’s annual It was a sorry loss for SIS, as it earlier bowed to Bar Association, CNMI Mock Trial Coordinator carnival on Wednesday, May 30, from 10:00 am to Grace Christian Academy in the girls high school 2:00 pm on the school campus. The carnival will also Deanna Manglona-Ogo, Eulalia Villagomez- finale. feature a raffle with cash prizes: $500 Grand Prize, Arriola, from the CNMI Bar Association, and On the other hand, the win against the Geckos $300 Baby Grand Prize, and many more! Proceeds was sweet revenge for the Knights, who lost to SIS in Divana Dela Cruz from the CNMI Judiciary. from the carnival and raffle will fund repairs to the title game in the 2015-2016 season. The Knights student restrooms. Winners need not be present to also had a runner-up finish last year as they were win. stunned by Marianas Baptist Academy in the finals. CONGRATULATIONS In the Future

MathCourt Knights performed well in last weekend’s Junior-Senior Prom MathCourt Competition: Nathaniel Clark for taking 2nd place in 5th grade individual, EunKyu Hong for taking 3rd place in TOMORROW, Saturday, May 18 6th grade individual, and Eunkyu Hong, Minki Jung, Nathaniel Clark, and Oscar Buenaflor for taking 2nd place in the team event. Eunkyu Hong will be a part of Team CNMI who will Non-Graduating Exams compete in Texas on Jun 16, 2018. The following students also qualified to compete in the competition: Kainoa Tenorio, Karl May 21—25 Angelo Diaz, Layla Palacios, Remiegem Melchor, Jadine Pangelinan, Gavril Santiago, and Valerie Estella.

Memorial Day May 28 (no classes)

Awards Ceremony/Last Day of School May 31, 8:00 am, Cathedral

K-5 Promotional Ceremony May 31, 5:00 pm, Cathedral Arstin Tagabuel won the Gold Medal in Softball Throw and Silver Medals in Long Baccalaureate Mass Jump, 100m, and 60m in the recent Friday, June 1, 6:00 pm, Cathedral interscholastic track and field meet, putting the school in 2nd place in the overall school 8th Grade Graduation division. Saturday, June 2, 10:00 am, Cathedral

12th Grade Graduation Parent Council Corner Saturday, June 2, 5:00 pm, Cathedral End of Year Carnival and Raffle ESLR of the Week May 30, 2018 $500 Grand Prize • $300 Baby Grand Prize #2. Consistently exhibit Catholic and many more prizes! attitudes, values and behaviors. Proceeds to fund repairs of student restrooms. • Winners need not be present to win.

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