COLUMBUS — St. Hilary School’s Mock Trial teams of seventh- and eighth-graders competed at the Ohio Middle School Mock Trial State Showcase in Columbus April 15. For the second year, the school had two teams, with students serving as attorneys and witnesses.
The red team, including Max Buehrle, Christian Lewandowski, Moira McCarron, Luke Monteleone and Allison Swiatkowski for the plaintiff side, and Robert Brennan, Madison Glenn-Lawson, Maggie McCarron, Braden Ost and Olivia Sucato for the defense side, earned a superior rating, the highest rating given by the judges.
The white team, including Emma Advent, Lucy Chmura, Alex Klippel, Victoria Lucas and Meg Resweber for the plaintiff side, and Gia Abucejo, Connor Cline, Lulu Gilbert, Anneliese Lamm and Alexis Smith for the defense side, earned an outstanding rating, the second highest rating given by the judges.
Connor and Olivia earned best attorney awards and Emma, Christian, Maggie and Alexis earned best witness awards.
Robbie Cramer, Suzette Gissinger, Nicole Reese and Sierra Spoerndle served as bailiffs and timekeepers for the teams.
This year’s competition was based on the classic novel “The Outsiders.”
The teams were coached by Judge Katarina Cook, now in her 10th year as St. Hilary School Mock Trial coach, and attorney Kristen Lewis, of Kisling, Nestico & Redick, with help from St. Hilary School faculty advisers Judi Buzzi and Christine Spinner. The teams had a dress rehearsal in Cook’s courtroom to prepare for the state competition at the Ohio Supreme Court.
STORY BY: Akron Ohio News