Sixth consecutive year!
Mock Trial team qualifies for state tournament
Last March our Mock Trial team was on the bus heading down I-71 to the state tournament in Columbus when they got the call that the spreading COVID-19 shutdown of businesses, schools, and events had forced the tournament's cancellation.
That disappointing experience helped propel Team Blue of the Legal Lions to yet another state tournament appearance this year—NDCL's sixth consecutive year in the state finals. NDCL's Team Blue is one of only 19 of 214 teams throughout Ohio qualified for this year's state tournament as a result of regional trials on February 19-20. Because of the pandemic, the state competition on March 11 will be entirely virtual. All teams will focus on a single case involving prosecutors’ duty to disclose exculpatory evidence during plea negotiations.
NDCL students won five individual awards at regionals:
Best Attorneys:
Seniors Connor Marrott and Rylee Yackin and sophomore Victoria Baioni
Best Witnesses:
Senior Hayden Bell and freshman Kendra Brokamp
Mock Trial is the largest non-athletic interscholastic competition in the state of Ohio. English Department Chairperson Ms. Victoria Frabotta '86, Miss. Katie Martin ‘14, and social studies teacher Mr. Ross Martin advise NDCL's Mock Trial teams.
The Lions owe much of their success to the expert advice provided by their dedicated and generous volunteer legal advisors, including Mr. Martin Delahunty (Jackie ’16 and JD ‘17 ); Judge Carolyn Paschke and Perrin Sah, parents junior Mallory Sah and Garrett Sah ‘20 and; Mrs. Kimberly Baioni, mother of sophomore Victoria; Mr. Nick Burling '01 from the Geauga County Prosecutor's Office; Judge Michael Shaughnessy (Megan ‘12 and Kate ‘18 ).
Special thanks to Judge Terri Stupica, who officiated scrimmages for the teams and has supported the NDCL Mock Trial Team throughout the season.
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| THE TRADITION CONTINUES: Mock Trial Team Blue will compete in the state tournament on March 11. Team members include (back row) Hayden Bell, Mallory Sah, Madeline Kuhlman, Connor Marrott; (front row) Madison Rodgers, Bailey Rice, Veronica Mekhel, Rylee Yackin |