Menlo defeated Crystal Springs Uplands School in their final round on the county level, qualifying them for states. Photo courtesy of Thom Scher.

By Kaitlyn Tom

After four weeks of arduous rounds at the county level, Menlo Mock Trial defeated Crystal Springs Uplands School on Feb. 16, propelling them into the state competition in Riverside. This is the seventh year in a row that the Mock Trial team has won the county competition.

In the most recent years that the Mock Trial team has won county, they have typically competed against Hillsdale High School in the final round. This year, they competed against Crystal, posing a challenge for the team. “Unlike with Hillsdale, we didn’t know what to expect which was pretty scary. Luckily we had gone against [Crystal] in the first round so we had a general idea at what was coming but not going against Hillsdale was weird and unexpected,” junior Natalia Cordon said.

Last year, the team got second place at the state competition. “Especially after losing State final last year, I’m looking forward to another chance at a State championship and discovering our potential as a team,” senior Jacob Julian-Kwong said.

Many team members will be stepping up into new roles. Junior Tiffany Tam will be one of the closing attorneys at state, a role that earns double the points of a witness, opening attorney, or middle attorney. “It’s your duty to know what’s going on in every examination. […] Closers have the last word, and it’s important to say the right words,” Tam said. “And that’s part of the reason it’s so fun.”

For the state competition, the Mock Trial team often has students double, which means that one student will play one role on the prosecution side and another on the defense side. Cordon will be doubling for the first time in this state competition. “I’m scared about having to change my mindset each round, but we have a specific way of training that will make this [easier] to adjust to. There have been a lot of alumni who have done the same, and I intend on reaching out to them and asking for advice,” Cordon said. “I feel like I have accomplished a lot this season and I’m ready for the next step.”

The team is looking forward to bringing out new material during the state competition. “We have been locking [down] a lot of material and holding it for higher levels of competition. I can’t wait to release that material because I know it will turn some teams for a loop,” Cordon said.

In addition, team members are excited to see the team in tip-top shape for states. “Even though state prep is one of the most stressful times in the year, I know we’ll grow a tremendous amount as individuals but also together as a team. I can’t wait to see our team in peak condition,” Tam said.

Julian-Kwong agrees with Tam. “Because this will be my last year on Menlo Mock Trial, I want to give it my all and go out with a bang,” Julian-Kwong said.