Archmere Ranks 4th in the State in High School Mock Trial Competition
The Delaware High School Mock Trial Competition took place virtually on February 19 and 20, 2021. Archmere Academy fielded both a Varsity and a JV team in a surprisingly exciting case about drone surveillance, land restoration and insurance denial of coverage. The teams competed in 4 rounds, with Varsity winning 3 rounds and ultimately coming 4th in the state, continuing a long tradition of excellence in the competition. The JV team was very competitive for a team consisting of first year team members, coming in 13th above all other JV teams and many other schools.
Margaret Atkins ‘21, Sydney Vakili ‘23, Mia Gattuso ‘23, Alicia Chu ‘24 and Victoria Eastment ‘24 each earned Most Effective Witness gavels, and Lily Sabine ‘21 was awarded a Most Effective Attorney gavel. Camron Kaiser ‘21 and Grace Koch ‘24 were each awarded two Most Effective Attorney gavels.
The Varsity team, including senior attorneys Camron Kaiser, Christian Miller, Lily Sabine and Brendan Sullivan, senior witnesses Margaret Atkins, Abigail Oberembt, Norah Prendergast, and Maura Smeader; sophomore attorneys Helen Qi and Clare O’Dwyer, and sophomore witnesses Amelia Gattuso and Sydney Vakili, all demonstrated outstanding knowledge of legal and evidentiary rules and a thorough understanding of the case.
The JV team consisted of freshmen attorneys Anna Benner, Grace Chen, Grace Koch, Noah Marino and Gavin Nguyen, sophomore witness Ava Courtney and freshmen witnesses Alicia Chu, Victoria Eastment and Justin Flenner. Grace Koch, Grace Chen and Ava Courtney each successfully took on multiple roles on the team; Grace Koch as an attorney and Ava Courtney as a witness for both plaintiffs and Grace Chen as a plaintiff witness and defense attorney.
Due to the virtual nature of this year’s competition, the teams enjoyed the opportunity to compete from the Patio. Coaches Neilli Walsh, Bob Whetzel and Kristin Giakas observed from their homes, while the students not competing in rounds were able to watch together from a viewing room in the Patio.
Archmere Academy is a private, Catholic, college preparatory co-educational academy,
grades 9-12 founded in 1932 by the Norbertine Fathers.
grades 9-12 founded in 1932 by the Norbertine Fathers.
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