Students from all four Westerville Middle Schools participated in the Middle School Mock Trial Competition at the Ohio Judicial Center in downtown Columbus.
The 2013-14 8th grade Mock Trial teams from each of the four Westerville middle schools participated in the State Showcase on Wednesday, April 2 at the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center in Downtown Columbus. Each school competed in two trials, one with their defense team and the second with their prosecuting team.
Blendon’s prosecuting team co-counselors Olivia Smith and Aidan Tansey (who won the Outstanding Lawyer Award in the case) and witnesses Bella Diekman, Lana Pauquette, and Katie Ball went up against Yorktown Middle School in Columbus. The defense team consisted of co-counselors Campbell Smith and Emily Hayman and witnesses Emma Davidson, Maia Hale, and Chris Heermann, who argued against Woodward Park Middle School in Columbus. Timekeepers were Anna Nufer and Nicholas Manuel, and the bailiff was Michael Hallman.
Genoa’s prosecuting team co-counselors Nikita Nair and Noah Ring (Outstanding Lawyer award) and witnesses Jacob Rich, Jack Birath, and Caroline Warrick were pitted against Mason Middle School in Mason, Ohio. The defense team consisted of co-counselors Madison Seabury (Outstanding Lawyer) and Henry Snyder and witnesses Nick Altenbach, Kyra Freeman, and Kacy Lytle. They competed against Dominion Middle School in Columbus. Mallory Boring was the timekeeper, and Dominic Ravagnani served as bailiff.
Heritage’s prosecuting team co-counselors George Patil and Carson Pfeiffer (Outstanding Lawyer) and witnesses Danika Adelman (Outstanding Witness award), Alex Haas, and Darby Holman battled against Ridgeview Middle School in Columbus. The defense team consisted of co-counselors Aidan Thompson (Outstanding Lawyer) and Andrew Scherer and witnesses Amanda Lam, Jordan Gayle, and Francie Gorden, who went up against Dominion Middle School in Columbus. Zach Pryfogle was the timekeeper and bailiff.
Walnut Spring’s prosecution was lead by co-counselors Grace Yingling (Outstanding Lawyer) and Josh Coffey and witnesses Mackie Mantenieks, Carolyn Dailey, and Shelby Wollam (Outstanding Witness) against Dominion Middle School in Columbus. The defense team of co-counselors Jason Brown (Outstanding Lawyer) and Kaleigh Rudge and witnesses Carolyn Dailey (Outstanding Witness), Katelyn Gibson, and Meg Foster fought Zanesville Middle School in Zanesville, Ohio. Katelyn Gibson was the timekeeper and bailiff.
This marks the first time all four schools have competed after last year’s pilot effort by Walnut Springs and Genoa. The students worked on this extra-curricular program for five months and were led by advanced social studies teachers Kim Demooy (Blendon), Ryan Borland (Genoa), Kevin Thuman (Heritage), and Liz Stokes (Walnut Springs), with support from Administration, Gifted Education, and Social Studies Departments.
For more information on the Middle School Mock Trial sponsored by the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education, please visit http://www.oclre.org/middleschoolmocktrial.