Winter sports like basketball, wrestling and swimming are starting their competition season but they are not the only teams here at Penn-Trafford that are starting up for the year, mock trial is also beginning its tournament season.

     Mock trial is a year-round competition at P-T that has been around for over 15 years. The team, made of 26 members and two captains, recently began to work on their case for the upcoming tournaments.

     “So presently what we are doing is looking at the actual mock trial case. Prior to that, we were looking at the rules of the competitions— things like objections and anything we could do to prepare for the actual case,” stated Christina Wukich, the sponsor of the mock trial team.

This year’s case is called “The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs. Addison Booker.” The PA Bar Association designated this “whodunit” murder case. There are 12 roles available for the case(six lawyers and six witnesses), who are all a part of the competition team. 

     Emma Edwards, one of the co-captains for the mock trial, was assigned the role of prosecuting attorney. She and two other lawyers will be working with three witnesses to give a direct examination, a cross-examination and a closing statement.

     Edwards and the rest of the mock trial members are starting to put together their cases and arguments for the upcoming competition in February, against neighboring schools like Greensburg Central Catholic, Southmoreland, Greensburg Salem, Franklin Regional and Kiski. The competition will take place at the Greensburgh Country Courthouse.

     “It will be interesting to see what direction all the other schools go with the case,” stated Edwards.

     If P-T wins both sides of the argument at that competition, they will qualify for the Western Pa level and compete against other finalists from around Western Pa. If they win there, they will advance to compete at the state-wide level. 

     The case will stay the same through states, but if the team qualifies for national competition, a new case will be provided.

     Besides the regular competitions, the high school team has already hosted the middle school with a case designed by a former mock trial member. They are also planning on competing in a week-long tournament at the University of Pittsburgh in January. If they feel like they need more preparation with the case they will also participate in a tournament at Penn State.

     After all of this, P-T hosts a “B” team tournament which gives the members a chance to play a different role than the one they previously competed in throughout the season. This also allows for someone who had a non-speaking role during the regular season, to have a more prominent one. Edwards, who has been competing on the team for four years now, discussed her experience being on the team.

     “It’s a lot of improv because you have to be able to form an answer for something you didn’t see coming,” Edwards said. “It’s a stressful environment, but I get fueled on that, and it makes me work harder and do better.”

Mia Williams, Business Manager