Marple Newtown High School’s (MNHS) Mock Trial Team made history this year with an impressive run all the way to the State Championship. For the first time since the club was founded nine years ago, the team competed at the District, Regional and at the Pennsylvania State Mock Trial Championships. Although their season ended after a loss to Philadelphia’s Central High School, MNHS’s Delta team was one of only fourteen competing teams at the tournament and one of four to reach the semifinal round at the Dauphin County Courthouse in Harrisburg, PA.
The Pennsylvania Bar Association/Young Lawyer Division (PBA/YLD) Mock Trial Competition gives over 290 high school student teams from across the state the opportunity to act as lawyers and witnesses in simulated criminal and civil trials before actual judges and panels of juries.
Mock Trial season begins in November when teams are given a fictional criminal or civil case released by the PBA/YLD. This year’s case was a grand larceny case, and from November through January, the teams closely analyzed the extensive case materials and prepared attorney and witness roles for both the prosecution and defense sides.
Marple had two teams this year: Team Delta, which included Kayley Brown, Lexi Monteleone, Maura Pumphrey, Emily Wechter, Sophia Favretto, Bethany Campanella, Dillan Golbon and Gracy Kaur; and Team Pi, which included Michael McCollough, Mia Recchia, Dominic Cirillo, Priya Devi,
Jayda Tavera, Trish Gardose and Rebecca Bogutz. Team Pi also had a successful season, finishing with a record of 1-1 in their matches.
In January, both teams competed at the University of Pennsylvania’s Benjamin Franklin Invitational Tournament, and then in February, they went to the district competition held at the Delaware County Courthouse. Team Delta won both of their regular season trials, then defeated Merion Mercy and Strath Haven in the playoffs to claim the school’s first ever District Seven Championship. Next, they advanced to the Regionals held at the Bucks County Justice Center in Doylestown, PA, defeating Bensalem High School.
At the State Finals in Harrisburg, Team Delta gave an impressive performance presenting their case in front of the Honorable Judge Jennifer P. Wilson over three intense trials against the best teams from Pennsylvania. Matt Bilker, Marple Newtown School Board Director and legal advisor to the club, said this group was like nothing he’d seen before since he began advising the Mock Trial Club. “This was a really impressive group,” he said.
“They really gave it their all and they crushed it.” MNHS teacher Dr. Michael Karpyn has served as the club’s faculty advisor since it started. “The Delta Team, who Mr. Bilker nicknamed the Litigating Lady Tigers, had a unique skills set. They were really fun to watch,” he said. “Not only are they strong students academically, many of them have had a theater background. A lawyer must tell a convincing, entertaining and moving story to the jury so having good presentation skills really helps.”
Matt explained that for aspiring lawyers, being part of a mock trial team provides early exposure to the legal field. The skills developed can also benefit students pursuing any career path. “Case preparation can take months of research, depositions and strategic planning,” he explained. “It’s a great way to build public speaking skills, critical thinking abilities and it involves a lot of teamwork.” Lexi Monteleone, a senior and one of the team’s captains, said that being part of Mock Trial helped her build self-confidence. “It really helped me grow as a person,” she added.
“This year was fun and exciting for so many reasons,” said Dr. Karpyn. “Not only did Team Delta make such an amazing playoff run, but we were so impressed by the efforts and courtroom performances of the Team Pi. We can’t wait to see what they do in the future!”