Mock-Trial Team Makes Semi-Finals

From 24 April to 2 March, Fleetwood Area High School´s Mock Trial team competed in their semi-finals. This year’s Mock Trial team includes Natalie Slusser, Sam Mitten, Kaitlyn Geist, Cassandra Batz, Andrew Haas, Brady Whalen, Noah Stern, Maddie Ammon, and Maddie Fick.

Mock Trial is a club offered at Fleetwood. Every November, the Pennsylvania Bar Association releases a mock case file that teams all over the state use to simulate a real trial. They compete in tournaments, and invitationals, and they have events they must win in order to advance.

The state competition is set up like a tournament, composed of four preliminary rounds. In order to move forward in the competition, a team must win all four events or score enough points over a course of two days to be considered in the top four.

Mock Trial has had a rather impressive season this year, including defeating their typical rivals (Nazareth, Parkland, and Wyoming Seminary) as well as securing districts, regionals, and county championships.

¨We made Berks County mock trial history this year, and I couldn’t be more ecstatic to have this be my parting year,¨ Slusser said.

Their last event for the year was Law Day. Here they were recognized for their county championship title with a luncheon, where they met people from Berks County´s legal committee and the PA Bar Association. 

¨As much as I love mock trial and would swear up and down that joining was one of the best decisions I have ever made, I will admit: it is not for everyone. It takes some serious guts, work, and dedication to be a member of the team. It is a large time commitment, but if you really want to be a part of it, it is worth it! I do encourage trying out for the team, but people should consider all the factors beforehand,¨ Slusser said.