Mock Trial Team Places Fourth in State, JV Team Places 8th in Delaware Competition

The Delaware High School Mock Trial Competition took place on February 23 and 24, 2024 at the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center (formerly the New Castle County Courthouse). Archmere Academy competed with Varsity and JV teams in 4 rounds. The Varsity team won 3 rounds, ultimately coming in 4th in the state, continuing a long tradition of excellence in the competition. The JV team won 2 rounds, scoring 8th in the state.
Varsity Team Captains Alicia Chu ‘24 and Brianna Yang ‘25 were each awarded two Most Effective Attorney gavels. Grace Koch ‘24 and Victoria Eastment ‘24 each earned an Most Effective Witness gavels. On the JV team, witnesses Darren Luo ‘26 and Angela Zhang ‘26 were each awarded two Most Effective Witness gavels, and Rebecca Wang ‘26 also received a Most Effective Attorney gavel. 

The Varsity team members, including senior attorneys Alicia Chu, Noah Marino, and Gavin Nguyen, senior witnesses Grace Chen, Victoria Eastment, Sammy Gordon, and Grace Koch, junior attorney Brianna Yang, junior witness Charlie Ramsey, sophomore attorneys Brandon Paregian and Daniel Qi and sophomore witness Sarah Eastment, all demonstrated outstanding knowledge of legal and evidentiary rules and a thorough understanding of the case, which was a trial about a murder on top of the Wilmington Community Service Garage.

The JV team, aside from returning Team Captains/attorneys Chloe Li ‘26 and Rebecca Wang ‘26 and witnesses Darren Luo ‘26 and Angela Zhang ‘26, were new to the competition this year. Attorneys Kindred Ballard ‘26, Tianna Bell ‘27, Kellyn Williams ‘26 and witnesses Omar Hefnawi ‘26, Zoe Thornton ‘26 and Audrey Zou ‘26 were excited to compete in person at the courthouse for the first time.

The team is coached by Delaware attorneys and former/current Archmere parents Neilli Walsh, Kristin Giakas and Bob Whetzel, along with Archmere Spanish teacher Janna Scheflen.

The Delaware Law-Related Education Center also held a competition for Courtroom Artist, rewarding the artist who created the best drawing throughout the course of a two hour round of competition. They specifically rewarded artists who showed the drama and action of the courtroom, with a focus on composition, perspective and detail. Grace Yang ‘25 and Megan Shaposky ‘26 represented Archmere this year.
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Archmere Academy is a private, Catholic, college preparatory co-educational academy,
grades 9-12 founded in 1932 by the Norbertine Fathers.