The Tyrone High School Mock Trial Team defeated Altoona in a close trial on Monday night, making them district champions for only the second time in school history.

Tyrone and District 3 co-champion Central will both move on to the Regional round of the state-wide competition.  Tyrone will face Peters Township on Tuesday, March 16 at 5 pm.

In the district championship round, Tyrone argued as the defense in the case of The Estate of George Romero vs. Ashley Williams.

The attorneys for Tyrone’s team this year are Miranda Goodman, Mario Grugan, and Ashlyn McKinney. The witnesses for the defense side of the case are Abigail Kaspick, Sarah Butina and Caleb McKinney.

On the plaintiff side, the witnesses are Alysa Wheland, Emily Dale, Cassidy Miksich, and Mikenzie Weaver.

“I am extremely proud of this group, especially our senior attorney Miranda Goodman, who has really worked hard at this for several seasons. The team was very dedicated this season despite the interruptions due to COVID and the difficulties of competing by live video,” said Tyrone Mock Trial Coach Todd Cammarata.

Goodman earned the best attorney award and sophomore Sarah Butina won the best witness award at the district championship trial.

To get to the district final, Tyrone defeated Central Cambria in early January, and despite a close loss to Windber in round two, their point total was highest among teams with one win and one loss, qualifying them for the district championship round against Altoona.

“Altoona is a great team. It was a very close trial, and they deserve a lot of credit as well,” said Cammarata.

Due to COVID precautions, all of the trials have been conducted over Zoom this season. This is a complete change from the norm of performing live in front of jurors and a judge.

“The fact that it is over Zoom definitely changes the dynamic in many ways. It’s not as exciting as competing live in an actual courtroom, but the competition has translated to a remote platform much better than I expected. Despite all the challenges, it has been a good season,” said Cammarata.

The Pennsylvania Mock Trial Competition is one of the largest state mock trial competitions in the nation with more than 300 teams competing each year.

Mock Trial gives students the opportunity to act as lawyers and witnesses in simulated civil and criminal trials before actual judges and juries. Lawyers volunteer to assist students as team advisors, scorekeepers, and regional coordinators.

The winners of the regional round of competition will compete for the state mock trial title in April.