Mustangs Win Distinction in Model UN Competition

After debating world issues for four days, Mira Costa High School students returned to the Beach Cities from New York on Saturday with the coveted Award of Distinction and 1st Place showing in the national Model United Nations Conference.

More than 3,000 students from 175 high schools descended upon New York City last week to compete in debates from Wednesday to Saturday. Some students traveled from overseas. 

Mira Costa High School advisers Wayne Knutson and Bob Timberlake are still ecstatic with their teams’ performance.

"Model U.N. is fun, but our kids work their butts off when it comes to preparation and competition. We take on all comers,” Timberlake told Patch.

The competition was held at the United Nations headquarters in New York, and included teams from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Italy, Venezuela and Germany. Debate rooms were filled with active critical thinking and competitive spirits.

"We make sure that we apply our mantra of ‘adapt, improvise and overcome’ at all times," Timberlake said.

Centennial High School from Georgia took 2nd Place and the Award of Excellence. East Brunswick High School of New Jersey garnered 3rd Place and the Award of Merit. 

The Mustangs took home the Award of Distinction for the fifth time in school history. Mira Costa claimed previous victories at the national conferences in 1997, 2000, 2002 and 2009.

This year’s triumph was in many parts thanks to Costa’s largest team to ever attend the conference, with a mix of 47 sophomores, juniors and seniors.

“Individuals need to be aware that when they are members of a team it requires duties and discipline,” Timberlake said. “Successful teams are possible only if there exists a balance between creativity and discipline.”

The Mustangs exhibited such traits as the team was given the task of representing the nations of Brazil and Libya with choice topics ranging from Internet access in Africa to the protection of national marine resources. 

The students also debated interdiction of the international drug trade and the current rebellion in Libya. In preparation for competition the Mira Costa squad worked tirelessly with prepared and impromptu speeches as well as spending copious amounts of time researching and writing. 

The Mustangs bested traditional rivals Cerritos and Huntington Beach high schools for the top spot at a UC Berkeley competition this month, enduring 14 hours of debate representing China, Libya, Ethiopia and Djibouti with more than 50 schools and 1,500 participants.

After departing in the Bay Area, the Mustangs boarded a plane for New York City the following morning for their weeklong trip in the Big Apple.

The Mira Costa students who participated are Alka Nath, Trent Fuji, Jordan Martucci, Michael McPherson, Zeena Bhakta, Ari Howorth, Jack Rosenberg, Jordyn Irwin, Chris Bickel, Abby Watkins, Zack Gill, Elika Mazhar, Selena Feliciano, Nick Jones, Noah Granow, Brian Linnel, Alyssa Mattocks, Adam Gerard, Roxy Lyter, Claire Schiff, Jessie Somberg, Christina Regan, Zach Kay, Victoria Southwood, Laura Vaughn, Lindon Chen, Shelby Brand, Dani Sepanek, Brad Baechleur, Gabby Armato, Taylor Lewis, Eli Mulvihill, Sanjana Sinha, Michelle Nwoke, Tyler Julius, Maddy Fredrick, Alec Kane, Nick Zobel, Adina Luo, Yuan Wang, Braden Currey, Mackenzie Austin, Emily Rheinstein, Austin Ahn, Trevor Thorpe, Kate Hubbard, Catherine Dam

Coming up: a Mira Costa student recounts his experience on the East Coast with his fellow Model United Nations teammates.