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After sweeping to victory in two trials Friday morning at the Lake County Courthouse in Painesville, NDCL's Mock Trial team will now advance to regional competition on February 19 at the Old Courthouse in downtown Cleveland.

NDCL and two teams from Mentor High School were the only teams to make it out of the hotly contested competition, which included a total of 10 teams from Hawken School, Andrews Osborne Academy, Kirtland High School, Lake Catholic High School, Gilmour Academy, and Willoughby South.

LEGAL EAGLES: Junior Chris Jerme, sophomores Antonia Mysyk and Briana Cowman, and junior Tom Fogarty show off their individual awards from Friday's Mock Trial competition in Painesville. APPROACH THE BENCH: The Honorable Eugene A. Lucci, judge of the Lake County Court of Common Pleas, meets with members of the NDCL Mock Trial team after ruling in their favor. With Judge Lucci are freshman Kayla Powell (left), sophomore Briana Cowman, freshman Hannah Taylor, junior Tom Fogarty, and senior Alexandra Edmonds.

The budding barristers tried a case involving the use of deadly force by the police—a timely issue in Cleveland and throughout the nation. An officer shot a teenager dressed in an archer's costume and carrying what later turned out to be a toy bow and arrow. The teen was on his way to a medieval faire at the time of the incident.

On the prosecution side, junior Tom Fogarty won the award for best attorney and sophomore Briana Cowman earned the best witness honor. NDCL's prosecution team also included senior Alexandra Edmonds, attorney, and freshman Hannah Taylor, witness.

Defense lawyer junior Chris Jerme also won the best attorney award, with sophomore Antonia Mysyk taking the prize for best defense witness. Junior JD Delahunty served as Chris's co-counsel, and senior Machala Comenschek acted as the second defense witness.

Freshman Kayla Powell and junior Randy Cumley served as timekeepers and bailiffs for Friday's trials.

Social studies teacher Mr. Alex Dowger and English teacher Ms. Vicki Frabotta coach the team, with legal assistance from attorneys Mr. Matt Lallo '02 and Mr. Shawn Maestle, father of junior Emma and freshman Morgan.