COMPETITION: Poly was one of three Mock Trial teams from the Inland Empire to compete in state Mock Trial finals this year.
By John Burke, Staff Writer
Poly’s Mock Trial team had a very strong season this year, winning the competition for county and becoming one of three Inland teams to move on to State, along with Redland’s East Valley High and Redlands High School.
Poly put up a very strong showing at State, but unfortunately did not move on to nationals. The team appeared pleased with their performance though. “After losing half our team last year to graduation, no-one, including our coaches, thought we would be able to compete at this level again. This team really showed everyone with their hard work that Poly is not a team you can mess around with,” Jared Kanouse, a member of Poly Mock Trial, said.
All teams argued the case of People v. Vega, a felony hit and run. Each team has been practicing this case since September, portraying either the defense or the persecution. “It almost becomes instinctual,” Emma Cunningham, another member of Poly’s Mock Trial team, said.
The teams are scored by attorneys who volunteer as judges. The actual verdict of the case has no effect on the scoring; each team’s performance is the only thing taken into consideration.
Redlands East Valley was the only Inland team to advance to the championship round, but lost to La Reina High School from Thousand Oaks. La Reina High School will advance to nationals on May 6.
Contributed by pe.com