The Backyard Brawl can take place on the football field, the basketball court, and even in the courtroom. The Tyrone Mock Trial B Team faced against Tyrone’s greatest rival, Bellwood, on Thursday night. Tyrone B swept the courtroom as the defense, winning against Bellwood by 32.5 points. This was the Tyrone B Team’s first trial of the season, as well as their first win ever.

The Tyrone B Team was created last year, and the team ended the season with a 0-2 record. Last year’s members hoped to come back and use the skills they learned to earn the B Team a victory. However, it just so happened to work out that almost every member of this year’s B Team is brand new.

“I thought that our team did really well, and considering that we’re all new, we handled the stress really well. I can’t wait to get our [win] at the next trial and move on for the first time,” said freshman attorney Anna-Lynn Fryer.

“I couldn’t be prouder of my team for getting our first win ever. We have made unbelievable progress since the start of the season. I can’t wait to see where we go from here, and I am so happy to be part of a team with such talented and hardworking individuals,” said senior attorney Morgan Bridges.

The team put in tons of hard work ever since the season started in November. They were prepared and ready to argue during the Pittsburgh Mock Trial Invitational during the first weekend of January. Tyrone B left the competition with two wins and two losses. However, both losses were on the defense side of the case; which was the side that the team would be arguing just four days later against Bellwood.

The next four days consisted of completely reconstructing the defense case. After constant practice, the team felt confident and ready to compete against Bellwood in the case of Silva Morel v. Tiger Tail Technologies, Inc.

“I’m proud of how well the team responded to the suggestions from the judges at the Pitt tournament in such a short time span. Four days and hours of studying later, we got our first official win against Bellwood,” said B Team Coach Michael Funicelli.

The case was tried in front of four jurors at the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg.

In the end, all four jurors ruled in favor of the defense.

“I believe that we are a strong team, and we put forth our best effort to perform [well] at our trial,” said sophomore attorney Christopher Wilkins.

Two team members went home with individual awards for their performance. Senior attorney Morgan Bridges was awarded the Best Advocate Award and freshman Shyanne Webster was awarded the Best Witness Award.

“I am truly honored to receive the Best Advocate Award,” said Bridges.

The Tyrone B Team will be back in action for its last trial of the season on January 31 at 6:00 pm at the Blair County Courthouse arguing as the plaintiff against the Altoona B Team.  This trial is open to the public.

“Our next trial is against Altoona B and they will pose a much bigger challenge than Bellwood,” said Funicelli, “Our attorneys really need to step up their knowledge of objections and our witnesses need to hone in on individual characters that the judges find memorable.”

If the team wins against Atloona, they will end the season with a 2-0 record and move on to the district playoffs.