Students from across the nation gathered in Indianapolis this month for the final series of events in the high school mock trial competition.
Rhinelander's Mock Trial team shows off the "Star Performer" certificates they received at the National Competition.
May 20, 2013 – Students from across the nation gathered in Indianapolis earlier this month for the final series of events in the high school mock trial competition.
A New Mexico team captured first place, with a California team taking second place.
“These students have been working around the clock all school year in preparation for this event. It’s wonderful to see all the painstakingly hard work come to fruition in the final rounds. The students are quite impressive,” said State Bar Public Education Committee Chair Kevin Lonergan, who attended the national event along with State Bar National Mock Trial Event Planning Committee Chair Kerry Gabrielson.
Katie Stenz is the public affairs coordinator with the State Bar of Wisconsin. She can be reached at kstenz@wisbar.org, or by phone at (608) 250-6145.
Wisconsin had its own representation at the championship – Rhinelander High School competed in the tournament after winning the state championship for the sixteenth time this spring.
“Rhinelander put on an amazing performance. The team can be proud of all they achieved this season,” added Lonergan.
The students take part in a rigorous schedule over the course of four days, beginning with two days of scrimmaging and then four preliminary rounds. The top two teams go on to compete in a final championship round.
The Rhinelander team, led by teacher coach Kathy Vick-Martini, is not unfamiliar with the winner’s circle. Under her direction, the school captured the national title once in 1989 and took second place in 2004.
Next year, Rhinelander and its fellow state competitors will go head-to-head in Madison, as the State Bar of Wisconsin is set to host the 2014 National Mock Trial Championship from May 8 to 10.
“The Nationals is a great opportunity for the state of Wisconsin. We’re going to showcase our state, we’re going to showcase the State Bar of Wisconsin,” said Lonergan. “We’re going to show them what we’re about here.”
For more information about the national championship in Wisconsin, contact PubEdCoordinator@wisbar.org or call 608-250-6191.
