Sean C. Morgan
The Sportsman’s Holiday Court Committee has selected all nine girls who applied to serve on this year’s court.
Court members made their first public appearance at the Sweet Home Chamber of Commerce’s After Hours Thursday evening, Feb. 27, at Hope Church, which featured the candidates for House Dist. 17.
Selected for the court are Becky Belcher, Brenna Boyd, Natali Chase, Addy Gilmore, Jillian Lynn, Olivia Martineau, O’Rian Offutt, Katie Robeck and Kaitlyn Victor, all high school juniors.
“It was too hard to choose between them, so we will wait until the coronation and let the judges select their winner,” said Nancy Patton, co-chairwoman of the court committee. “They are extremely intelligent. All them have a 3.5 and over grade point average.
“They’re all involved with a lot of activities. They all spoke well. We loved every single one of them.”
The committee hosted a workshop for interested girls early in February. Of those, Patton said nine applied to the court.
A number of things about the court have changed this year, including the fundraising process.
The girls will no longer collect money for their own scholarships, Patton said. “We are searching for sponsors ourselves. We have encouraged the girls to have their parents and relatives help out.”
They will still sell raffle tickets, Patton said, but that is not counted as part of the competition to be named Sportsman’s Holiday queen.
– Rebekah “Becky” Belcher, 16, is the daughter of Richard and Sonja Belcher. She is the Future Natural Resource Leaders president for the Sweet Home Oregon Chapter and vice president of the Oregon Chapter. She is active in Sweet Home forestry and varsity basketball.
– Brenna Boyd, 17, is the daughter of Brett and Laurie Boyd. She has participated in volleyball, track and cheer during her high school career, including being the assistant coach for the kindergarten cheer team.
– Natali Chase, 17, is the daughter of Tim and Lisa Chase. She has been involved with the Sweet Home High School Band, Drama Club, Health Occupations Club, Concert Choir and Key Club. She was inducted into the National Honor Society. She participates in the Sweet Home Youth Advisory Council and the Sweet Home Youth Watershed Council.
– Addy Gilmore-16, is the daughter of Matthew and Emily Gilmore. She is active as a volunteer with the Oregon Jamboree and at Foster Elementary School. She enjoys photography and the gorgeous scenery around Sweet Home.
– Jillian Lynn, 16, is the daughter of Jeff Lynn and Jami Snyder. She is active in the Sweet Home Key Club, Health Occupations Club and Sweet Home High School cheer. She was an assistant coach for Sweet Home mini cheerleading and was inducted into the National Honor Society.
– Olivia Martineau, 17, is the daughter of Aaron and Shelly Martineau. She has been involved in varsity soccer and swim team while attending Sweet Home High School. She also is a member of the National Honor Society, played for the local AYSO National Team in Hawaii, is active in Sweet Home Chamber Choir and was awarded the spot of alto section leader. She is a church choir director and church youth class president. She won the Mormon Heritage youth essay contest.
– O’Rian Offutt, 16, is the daughter of Bryan Offutt and Jessica Labrum. She has been active at Sweet Home High School in track and cheer, and she plans to play golf this year. She also is involved in the Sweet Home Key Club.
– Katie Robeck, 16, is the daughter of Mike and Cindi Robeck. She is active in Sweet Home High School basketball and soccer and the Sweet Home Key Club. She is a part of TFA-Willamette Valley in soccer and played with the local AYSO National Team in Hawaii.
– Kaitlyn Victor, 16, is the daughter of Lonnie Victor and Suzanne Smith. She is a three-year member and two-year captain of the Sweet Home High School dance team and two-year member of the Sweet Home cheer team. She is active in the Sweet Home Key Club and the Health Occupations Club. She has been a writer for The Huskian (SHHS newspaper) for three years. She has been a member of The Timber Echo (SHHS yearbook) for two years and editor for one. She was inducted into the National Honor Society.