By Jenna Racz ‘13
EE Staff Writer
The Trumbull High school Mock Trial Club Team left for New York City On October 25, 2012 to compete in the Empire Mock Trial Competition, a world recognized event, where almost all 50 states were represented. While Trumbull was the only team from New England, other countries in attendance were Ireland, Canada, England and South Korea. At the competition, Trumbull was considered the underdog, never previously competing in this well-known program. During the weekend Trumbull High School Mock Trial Team shocked the globe when they tied for 6th in the world.
Many dedicated mock trial members attended the competition including the club officers, Co-President and four year veteran Paul Leninger, Co-President Nikki Wittstein, Co-Vice Presidents Brandon Capece and Molly Stewert, Treasurer Kathy Nickson, and Secretary Jenna Tetu. Of the club members that attended were four year veteran Jenna Racz, two year veterans Annie Stachura, Dante Esposito, Anirudh Koduru, and Kristen Stanise, and rookies Ross Pellenberg and Gianfranco Galantini. In addition, the two dedicated team coaches Mr. August and Mrs. Boland also attended.
Last year one of the Trumbull Mock Trial teams came in 3rd in Connecticut. Due to this win, Trumbull High School was able to attend the Empire Competition in New York. In preparation for the competition, the team was given a difficult case in the beginning of the past summer, with over 160 pages to learn. Last year’s case was a simple bullying charge against a made up “Jordon Miller;” however, in this year’s Empire Competition, the case was a bit more difficult.
Joey Davis, a two-year-old, died from respiratory arrest. This was possibly due to a chemical in a toy created by the defendant, Happyland Toy Company, or his death might also happened because he had asthma and his mother did not take care of the health problem. Who was at fault? This was the case the Trumbull High School Mock Trial Club Team went to court to debate during the Empire Mock Trial Competition.
When asked about how she felt being able to attend a worldwide competition, Kathy Nickson commented “It was great knowing that all of our hard work and dedication allowed us to compete and excel at an international level.”
Throughout the weekend, the team faced four other teams. Mr. August, the team’s coach, summarized how the team did in competition in those two days.
“We beat Minnesota State Champion, Florida State Champion, tied the national runner-up (Georgia State Champion) and beat the Ireland National Champion. We finished in a tie for 6th place out of 36 teams,” he said.
When asked about the team’s accomplishments, Mr. August commented that he “…couldn’t be prouder of my kids and the program. We showed not only that we can compete on a global level, but we are one of the best teams in the country, and even the world.”
There are three Mock Trial Teams in the school, the club being the one to compete in the upcoming States Competition. The other two are part of a class called Honors Justice and Law which students can take once they are juniors or seniors. The club team is hopeful that their experience in a worldwide competition will give them a leg up in their state competition and will bring them to nationals for the first time in Trumbull High School history. Until then however, they’ll have to live with top 6th in the world.
Co-President Nikki Wittstein said about the experience: “Empire was the most unbelievable experience I could ever hope for. The abilities of our entire team have been pushed far beyond even our own expectations. If there is anything I have learned, it’s that we have nowhere to go but up!”