Ilyriana Malota ’27
EE Staff Writer
In the beginning of October, the Trumbull High Mock Trial team took flight to Atlanta, Georgia, where they competed in the Empire National Mock Trial competition against 35 other teams. After reviewing a case for months and hours of endless practices, the team finally got to show off all their hard work, and it definitely paid off.
The first few words spoken by senior member, Anastasia Drobity, after landing in Atlanta were, “I’m definitely most excited about getting to meet new people, that definitely helps calm the nerves of how stressful entering a competition could be, especially since it is our first time competing.” Although nerves were high, there was plenty of excitement radiating throughout the team.
The Atlanta Empire competition began with an opening ceremony, followed by two days of trials in which teams competed on both the prosecution and defense sides of a fictional criminal case. After the preliminary rounds conclude, the highest ranking teams advance to the final round on Monday.
Following their first full day in Atlanta, Trumbull students gathered at the opening ceremony, where they interacted with teams from across the country and around the world. Students ranging from different countries such as South Korea, to local states like New York.
The opportunity to meet students with similar interests from different backgrounds was just as exciting as the competition itself. Empire provided students with opportunities to network, meet new friends, and learn from other students who share the same passion.
However, quickly after the initial excitement of the opening ceremony, the nerves quickly returned as Trumbull prepared for its first trial.
The prosecution team, consisting of four attorneys and two witnesses, competed against a veteran team from Nashville, Tennessee. For many Trumbull students, this was their first opportunity to compete against a team outside Connecticut, making the experience both intimidating and exciting.
Despite the pressure, students walked away from their first round feeling more confident in their abilities.
“I’m honestly really impressed with how we did, I think I was expecting us to be noticeably experienced compared to the veteran teams, but we honestly put up a really good fight and were almost a pretty even match compared to a really impressive team,” said junior Saida Sedat following the team’s first trial.
As the competition continued, students became increasingly comfortable presenting their arguments, questioning witnesses, and responding to unexpected challenges from opposing teams.
Unlike traditional classroom activities, mock trial competitions require students to think on the spot, adapt to opposing arguments, and demonstrate understanding of traditional courtroom procedures.
Beyond the courtroom, the trip also allowed team members to strengthen their relationships with one another. Between trial preparations, exploring Atlanta, and meeting new students, the weekend offered far more than just competitions.
After a weekend of intense competition, Trumbull students gathered for the closing ceremony, where the final Top Ten rankings and individual awards were announced.
The team ultimately finished in twelfth place out of thirty-six competing schools, far exceeding the expectations of many students, uncertain of how they would perform at their first ever competition.
“I’m most impressed with how we did overall, placing twelfth in a national level competition against teams who have much more experience than we do is super rewarding,” said team member and witness Mikaela Lopez.
For Trumbull High School’s Mock Trial team, the competition represented more than an opportunity to earn recognition. It was a chance to demonstrate the preparation that the team had put in beginning months back, gain experience, and show how their coaching, by Mr. August has paid off.
Although the team did not advance to the championship round, its performance established a strong foundation for future competitions and was a great step to rebuilding the Trumbull High Mock Trial program.