Mock Trial Competes in County Competition
Torrey Mock Trial team places third in the competition.
There was no question that the defendant, played by the stunningly talented and aptly named Gabby Stryker ’17, struck a campus security guard and killed him. The only question was why. Was it because she hated him and wanted him dead? Or was she simply trying to stop the guard from hurting her friend and teammate, played by the also stunningly talented–albeit not quite as fittingly named–Posy Stoller ’17?
Over the course of two weeks, the Torrey Mock Trial team argued both sides of the case in a county-wide competition with 27 other teams. In Rounds 1 and 3, the prosecuting attorneys Rachael Mow ’17, Matthew Coufal ’16 and Arielle Algaze ’17 argued that the defendant was a vicious murderer. Their case was bolstered by the testimony of a steely-eyed detective (Sofia Islas ’19), a misty-eyed security guard who had been the victim’s partner (Liam Hosey ’17), a security director who runs a tight ship (Andre Pineda ’16), and an expert witness who wowed the court with her knowledge of the intricacies of handwriting analysis (Rebecca Margetts ’18). The unflappable Raquel Ramirez ’19 served as court clerk, making sure everything ran as smoothly as the circumstances allowed.
In Rounds 2 and 4, the defense attorneys Veronica Chandler ’16, Brennan Foster ’16 and Rebecca Schleimer ’16 defended Gabby’s decision to strike the security guard, maintaining that she was merely acting to save Posy’s life. In addition to Gabby and Posy’s testimony, the court also heard from a friendly teammate of theirs (Elaina Sassine ’18) and a poised, self-assured handwriting expert (Rubia Liu ’16) who disputed the prosecution expert’s analysis. The defense team also supplied the bailiff, the booming Jackson Benning ’17, who received on-the-spot job offers from judges impressed by his command of the courtroom.
In all four rounds, the trial was preceded by pre-trial argument, in which team captain Julianne Martin ’16 (the pre-trial attorney for both prosecution and defense!) eloquently parried judges’ questions about whether a particular statement made by the defendant should be deemed admissible. Observers found her arguments impossible to disagree with—at least until the next round, when she argued the opposite!
During all four rounds, the Torrey Mock Trial team performed in front of standing-room-only crowds, as proud parents and teachers squeezed into small courtrooms. Also in the audience were hard-working attorney coaches Shawn Tafreshi, Anthony Campagna, Dan Greene, Sallie Blackman, and Dayna Pineda, as well as a group of middle school students taking Country Day’s first-ever Mock Trial Elective.
Ultimately, the Torrey Mock Trial team placed third in the competition, with Rubia Liu winning an award for Outstanding Witness and Jackson Benning winning an award for Outstanding Bailiff. More important than the results, the students displayed tremendous talent, tenacity and teamwork throughout the competition, and they were an inspiring group to be around.
During the tournament, one member of the team wrote that “When I first started mock trial I was this young, quiet sophomore still trying to figure out how to use my own voice. Now, because of mock trial I’ve become a completely different, more confident person. More importantly, I have become part of an awesome group of people that I will never forget.” Another student described the team as a “family of champions.”
Over the past two weeks, the members of the Torrey Mock Trial team were an awesome, unforgettable group who proved their mettle as true champions, a true family, and a true joy to watch. Congratulations and thank you to the participants and their erstwhile supporters!
