In an unexpected twist at the We The People national Constitution competition, the tiny two-person team from Sprague High School in Salem secured a shared national championship with the more established Lincoln High from Portland.
Seniors Matthew Meyers and Colin Williams astounded everyone, including themselves, showcasing their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution amidst a field notorious for its rigorous demands.
Typically, teams in the competition comprise at least 20 members due to the extensive preparation required, but Meyers and Williams managed to excel as a duo.
In stark contrast, Lincoln’s nearly all-sophomore team consisted of 32 members, bolstered by a range of expert coaches and legal professionals dedicated to preparing them for the challenging event.
The We The People competition, now in its 37-year history, has seen Oregon excel, capturing the national title ten times, more than any other state.
Previously, the honors have mostly been claimed by either Lincoln or Grant High School, which clinched the national title in 2024.
Both schools benefit from the expertise of a brigade of legal professionals who volunteer hours each week to coach their students on constitutional law nuances.
However, the Sprague team relied primarily on their social studies teacher, Jacqueline Pope Brothers, for support, although both Meyers and Williams had unique advantages.
Growing up in households with parents who are professors at Willamette University’s law school, discussions centered around legal matters were a normal part of their lives.
The two also found common ground through their shared interest in logic and knowledge puzzles, often bonding over games like Wordle and geography-themed Worldle.
During their sophomore and junior years, Meyers and Williams participated in Oregon’s regional Constitution competition as members of a demonstration team, which functions at a junior varsity level.
As demonstration teams compete against one another without the opportunity to advance to state, their experience remained limited, yet they still managed to win a best unit award in their junior year based on speeches they had developed shortly before the competition.
Captivated by this achievement, they pondered whether they could convert their talent and dedication into a chance at reaching the state level in 2025.
Meyers juggles commitments that include soccer, playing guitar, and volunteering with the American Bar Association and the Red Cross, while Williams is active in student government and runs both cross country and track.
Reflecting on their goals, Williams admitted concerns over whether they could complete all twelve speeches required for each competition segment.
To prepare adequately, the duo utilized a Discord chat for collaboration, dividing tasks and conducting independent research, before reconvening for lengthy discussions that would sometimes stretch up to six hours.
Williams described their intense study sessions as moments where time seemed to slip away, emphasizing their immersion in constitutional law studies.
Their hard work paid off as they achieved fourth place in regionals, advancing to state where they astonished everyone by taking second place behind Lincoln.
Their celebratory moment, captured in a video that quickly circulated on social media, depicted their sheer astonishment as competitors applauded them upon the announcement of their national qualification.
Meyers appreciated a judge’s remark likening their dynamic to that of music legends Lennon and McCartney, calling it the highlight of their experience.
Lincoln team member Julia Armstrong expressed her admiration for the Sprague duo, acknowledging their impressive ability to manage their workload and mastery of topics they had researched for longer periods as a larger team.
At the national level, the Sprague team experienced camaraderie with their Lincoln rivals, participating in field trips to notable D.C. landmarks and sharing accommodations during the competition.
Both teams sat together with bated breath when the results were declared, each hoping for the chance to claim the national title.
The Lincoln group, buoyed by their recent strong performances, anticipated that their hard work throughout the season would secure them a victory after finishing sixth the previous year.
They conducted extensive research that spanned everything from intricate Supreme Court case laws to the philosophical underpinnings found in classical works like Homer’s The Odyssey.
Lincoln team member Isabella Tolba noted the exceptional cohesion they maintained throughout the competition, reflecting on how confidence remained strong amongst their unit members.
Unfortunately for Lincoln, disappointment struck when the judges announced their third-place finish, leaving the team feeling as though their efforts had fallen short.
Such sentiments were swiftly transformed into pride as the cheers rang out for Sprague’s unexpected triumph, marking a significant achievement for Oregon with two teams in the top three.
As the Sprague duo processed their stunning win, they were filled with elation and a touch of melancholy as they reflected on how their moment in the limelight had reached its conclusion.
“We just love this stuff,” Williams shared, emphasizing their appreciation for advancing through each competition round, relishing the opportunity to engage further with judges and present their arguments.
Back in Portland, understanding the implications of the competition results prompted Lincoln’s Constitution team teacher Patrick McGee-Jenks to re-evaluate his team’s performance.
While scrutinizing the score sheets, he uncovered a miscalculation that profoundly altered the standings, raising Lincoln’s team placement to a tie for the championship alongside Sprague.
This revelation added an unexpected and thrilling twist to the competition, showcasing the collaborative spirit of Oregon teams and a fitting end to an exhilarating season.
Now united in shared glory, Meyers reflected on the transformed victory perspective, stating how much sweeter it felt to share the accolade with Lincoln.
“The best part is that we didn’t lose our spot on the podium. We just don’t have it all to ourselves,” he remarked.
With their shared achievement, both teams demonstrated a remarkable spirit and commitment to constitutional knowledge that triumphs beyond competition and stands as a testament to education and collaboration.
image source from：https://www.oregonlive.com/education/2025/04/tiny-civics-team-from-oregon-school-with-no-history-of-winning-big-notches-unexpected-magical-national-title.html
