Mock Trial team going to state


Thursday, February 9, 2012
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Mock Trial team going to state

After advancing in the district competition February 5 in Oxford, Marshall Academy’s Mock Trial teams are getting ready for the state competition in Jackson February 17-18.

The school’s Team 1 placed and will compete against schools throughout the state, and Team 2 was chosen as the district’s alternate and will compete if another placing school cannot.

The High School Mock Trial program is sponsored by the Young Lawyers Division of the Mississippi Bar Association. Sarah Miller Taylor again serves the team as teacher sponsor. She is assisted by local attorneys Tony Farese of Ashland and Phillip Knecht of Holly Springs, as coaches for the team.

Marshall Academy participated at regionals with two teams this year. Team 1, who placed in the top teams at the district level, includes Katherine Farese, Michael Farese and Elgin Lafever as attorneys, and Ashika Bhakta, Ben Breithaupt, Brittany Stewart and Allyson Viger as witnesses. Team 2, who will travel with the competing team, includes Lori Simpson, Wood Morris and Jake Jones as attorneys and Caitlyn Brooks, Tucker Fant, Stephen Elgin and John Bradford Whisenant as witnesses.

“Our teams performed really well at district competition this year,” Taylor said. “They were poised and confident and all their hard work really paid off. They were among the best-prepared teams I’ve seen, and I am just so proud. Now it’s time to do a little fund-raising so we can get these kids to their competition.”

Mock Trial provides students the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the legal system and actually try fictitious court cases. Not only do participants learn teamwork, leadership, strategic planning and professional skills, they are able to expand their speaking, writing, reading and analytical abilities. Different teams from schools all over the state compete in this program. Competitions were scheduled in three regions of the state – Oxford, Jackson and the Gulf Coast. Winners of the regional competitions advance to state.

Marshall Academy will be one of just 20 teams across the state to compete for the top-ranked spots. The winner at state will advance to the National Mock Trial Competition, which will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Fund-raisers to get the teams to state will include a raffle and a bake sale. Anyone interested in sponsoring the Mock Trial Teams should contact the school at (662) 252-3452.

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