Even COVID can’t stop them!
Mock trial teams qualify for regional competition
For the sixth consecutive year, NDCL's mock trial teams have advanced to regional competition after prevailing in district trials.
Two of our teams—Team Gold and Team Blue—will compete in the regional trials on February 19-20. Our Team Purple, consisting entirely of freshmen, lost in districts by a razor-thin margin but snagged several individual awards, which bodes very well for the future.
Because of the pandemic, this year’s mock trial competition is entirely virtual, with teams competing on a series of days instead of a single trial date. All teams focused on a single case that focused on prosecutors’ duty to disclose exculpatory evidence during plea negotiations.
NDCL students won 10 individual awards in the district trials:
Best Attorneys:
Senior Connor Marrott, juniors Mallory Sah and Sarah Boyle, and freshmen Tuscani Orris and Ryan Shemitz
Best Witnesses:
Senior Madison Rogers; sophomore Bailey Rice; and freshmen Erin Lee, Hailey Karban, and Jessica Mekhel
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 Mr. 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; and Judge Michael Shaughnessy (Megan ‘12 and Kate ‘18 ).
Special thanks to Judge Terri Stupica and Mr. Ryan Callender (father of sophomore Jackson and Carter’19), who officiated scrimmages for the teams. Briana Cowman ’18, a current member of the mock trial team at Miami University, and Emily Callahan ’20, a current member of the Northwestern University mock trial team, also helped the teams during their winter break.
English teachers Ms. Victoria Frabotta '86 and Miss Katie Martin ‘14, and social studies teacher Mr. Ross Martin advise NDCL's mock trial teams.
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MOCK TRIAL TEAM BLUE:
(Back row) Hayden Bell, Mallory Sah, Madeline Kuhlman, Connor Marrott; (front row) Madison Rodgers, Bailey Rice, Veronica Mekhel, Rylee Yackin
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MOCK TRIAL TEAM GOLD:
Sarah Boyle, Erin Lee, Hailey Karban, Kendra Brokamp, Victoria Baioni, Tuscani Orris, Maria Román
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MOCK TRIAL TEAM PURPLE:
William Owendoff, Jessica Mekhel, Ryan Shemitz, Hailey Karban, Sam Speelman, Grace Ostrosky |