Despite placing well in a January pre-season tournament at the University of Pittsburgh, the Golden Eagle Mock Trial team dropped both of their opening round trials to Huntingdon and Bedford and will not move on in the tournament this year.

The students on the team were particularly disappointed in their first trial against Huntingdon, which took place at the Huntingdon County courthouse on February 11.  The team lost on four of seven jurors ballots, by two points on three of the four ballots.

”I was proud of our effort, but disappointed in the outcome,” said faculty adviser/coach Todd Cammarata.

“Scoring the trials is very subjective, especially when both teams are well prepared and talented.   We won’t always agree with the juries’ verdict, but that’s true in real courtroom as well,” added Cammarata.

Freshman Paige Umholtz was also disappointed by the losses.  ”I think some of the teams we were up against in Pittsburgh weren’t as good as Huntingdon and Bedford. They were good, and we were good. They just came out on top,” said Umholtz.

Junior Conner Stroud said that had fun at the Pittsburgh tournament and would like to focus on that experience rather than the other two trials.

”It was really exciting, we earned the best record we ever had there. I’m excited to see what we can do next year,” said Stroud.

“We tried our hardest, and that’s all that matters,” said junior attorney Hope Wilson.

Although the team ended the season a way they didn’t plan too, the students were generally happy with their season.

Freshman Makayla Ritchey was one of those people. ”I really liked Mock Trial, and I’m happy I joined it. I made a lot of new friends, and I can’t wait for next year.”

“We had no seniors on the team, so I expect us to come back strong next year,” said Cammarata.

Mock trial is an extracurricular activity at Tyrone.  The students practice after school and on weekends from late October until March under the direction of a attorney adviser and a teacher coach.

In mock trial, students play the roles of lawyers and witnesses in a simulated trial. Students must analyze the witness statements and evidence provided and build their case.  They must argue the case from both sides, one trial as the plaintiff and the next as the defense.

What makes mock trial fun is these students actually get to represent their cases in real court rooms in front of an actual trial judge and compete against teams from other schools.

Its a highly competitive competition that test students ability to argue, understand courtroom rules and procedures, communicate effectively, and work together as a team.

Members of the 2013-2014 Mock Trial team are juniors Hope Wilson, Conner Stroud, Carrie Vance, Molly Fessler-LaPorte and Jake Makdad.  Sophomores Erika Voyzey, Gina Gavazzi and Adam Zook.  Freshman Paige Umholtz, Makayla Ritchey, Shaniah Lowery and Haley Butina.