Schools
Mock trial teams argue their way to regional competition
 |
| SNP photo by Dan
Trittschuh Worthington Kilbourne High School junior Jared Bressman takes his turn arguing a case during mock trial competition Friday, Feb. 5. |
By PAMELA WILLIS
Worthington high school mock trial teams scored high marks
with judges last week as they argued a case on the First
Amendment, coming away with several individual awards and
qualifying for the regional contest.
Both Worthington Kilbourne and Thomas Worthington high schools sent teams to the district mock trial competition Friday, Feb. 5, at the Franklin County Courthouse in downtown Columbus.
Kilbourne students who won individual awards are sophomore Heather Boortz, best attorney; and freshman Jacob Wurm, best witness.
Thomas Worthington students who won individual awards are senior Lianna Havel, best attorney; and senior Andrew Paik, best witness, both on the plaintiff team; and senior Megan Lawson, best attorney; and sophomore Amy Mo, best witness for the defense.
Kilbourne adviser and attorney Tom Novack said he is extremely proud of the teams.
"Of our 10-member team, only three are returning members," he said. "We are essentially a rookie team that worked very hard. The team has been practicing two nights a week since the end of September in addition to working in small groups and individually outside of scheduled practice time."
Other members of Kilbourne's team are junior Jedidiah Bressman, junior Lexie Wurm, freshman Morgan Novack, sophomores Jared Bressman, Karam Dhilon and Paras Shah, and freshmen Rachael Hudson and Lexie Bond.
Other members of the Thomas team are senior Jesse Hart and junior Marissa Ganzfried.
Adviser and attorney Paul Nick is the Thomas Worthington coach.
The regional contest is Feb. 26, also at the Franklin County Courthouse.
The fictional case teams argued involved a high school student being suspended for creating what was called a "disrespectful blog" about a history teacher at his school. The student sued, claiming the school violated his First Amendment rights.
Novack said the mock trial program is not limited to students thinking about pursuing a career in law.
"The program is much more," he said. "It teaches students life skills that include oral advocacy, critical thinking and problem solving."
Both Worthington Kilbourne and Thomas Worthington high schools sent teams to the district mock trial competition Friday, Feb. 5, at the Franklin County Courthouse in downtown Columbus.
Kilbourne students who won individual awards are sophomore Heather Boortz, best attorney; and freshman Jacob Wurm, best witness.
Thomas Worthington students who won individual awards are senior Lianna Havel, best attorney; and senior Andrew Paik, best witness, both on the plaintiff team; and senior Megan Lawson, best attorney; and sophomore Amy Mo, best witness for the defense.
Kilbourne adviser and attorney Tom Novack said he is extremely proud of the teams.
"Of our 10-member team, only three are returning members," he said. "We are essentially a rookie team that worked very hard. The team has been practicing two nights a week since the end of September in addition to working in small groups and individually outside of scheduled practice time."
Other members of Kilbourne's team are junior Jedidiah Bressman, junior Lexie Wurm, freshman Morgan Novack, sophomores Jared Bressman, Karam Dhilon and Paras Shah, and freshmen Rachael Hudson and Lexie Bond.
Other members of the Thomas team are senior Jesse Hart and junior Marissa Ganzfried.
Adviser and attorney Paul Nick is the Thomas Worthington coach.
The regional contest is Feb. 26, also at the Franklin County Courthouse.
The fictional case teams argued involved a high school student being suspended for creating what was called a "disrespectful blog" about a history teacher at his school. The student sued, claiming the school violated his First Amendment rights.
Novack said the mock trial program is not limited to students thinking about pursuing a career in law.
"The program is much more," he said. "It teaches students life skills that include oral advocacy, critical thinking and problem solving."