By Jack Hammond
Slowly but surely, Menlo Mock Trial has progressed into a state powerhouse. After this weekend, the team will finally have the trophy to cement themselves as, not only a consistent contender, but a state champion. This past weekend, the mock trial team traveled to San Jose and participated in Constitutional Rights Foundation California State Competition. They defeated three-time defending state champion La Reina High School to win the program’s first state championship. The Prosecution team, led by co-captain senior attorney Kate Park, delivered an amazing performance on Sunday during the finals. The match was close, but Menlo eventually prevailed in the end. “We all felt a mixture of shock and pure happiness. We worked hard, and we knew we deserved it,” co-captain senior attorney Christina Wadsworth said.
In Menlo’s 13th year offering mock trial, the program has steadily grown. The current coaching staff has brought success and stability to Menlo, as they have qualified for six out of the last seven state championship tournaments. “We have a big coaching staff, and everyone brings something different. Without every single one of them, we could not have done it,” coach Thom Scher said.
This year’s senior class has done an outstanding job, as the team finished tenth, fifth, third and now first in their four years on the team. The team has had a bumpy ride this year, including finishing fourth in their own local tournament, but they were determined and would not be stopped. “If it was not for the leadership of Kate Park, Christina Wadsworth, and (senior attorney) Kathryn Hurd, who helped pull us back together after many tough losses, we would not be state champions,” junior prosecution witness Chris Crouch said.
This year’s case, People vs. Concha, centers around the people who attempt to charge Rae Concha with the possession of illegal drugs and second degree murder. The defense argues that the deceased victim, Concha’s best friend Jason Johnson, could have been killed from factors other than the Adderall Concha allegedly sold Johnson such as a pre-existing heart condition.
Menlo’s first three rounds in the tournament were solid performances, and the whole team felt confident heading into the semifinals against a consistently tough opponent in Elk Grove High School from Sacramento. The match was very close, as Elk Grove’s defense team challenged Menlo’s prosecution team throughout the match. This match meant something special to Park, who was winless in her stellar career against Elk Grove. “I told our team, ‘we have a style that can beat them. We are more likable, and everyone has the capability to score better and be better,” Park said. Menlo eventually would win the trial behind Park’s leadership and advance to face La Reina on Sunday morning.
Sophomore and pre-trial attorney Andy Parker started the championship final off with a bang, delivering strong and logical arguments that La Reina struggled to counter. The team followed Parker’s lead, and, led by their seniors, was selected as the state champions by the four experienced attorneys scoring the Championship Round. “La Reina had a terrific run […] and [is] a phenomenal team and classy program,” Crouch said. However, their run is over, and Menlo’s dynasty is just underway.
Menlo will advance to the national championship in Madison, Wisconsin. “The strength of our team is that we are natural […] [and] skilled presenters, not robots,” history teacher and Mock Trial teacher supervisor Dan Devitt said. The team will look to use its strengths to its advantage at Nationals. “The amount of work that is going to have to be put into preparing a case [that we usually have about half a year to prepare] in just one month is almost inconceivable,” senior attorney Kathryn Hurd said. However, the team is determined and ready to represent Menlo and the state of California. The greatest Mock Trial team to ever come through Menlo will look to put an incredible caption on an amazing year.
