Pine-Richland Mock Trial Team Takes 1st Place in Cathedral Classic
Mock Trial Team A
Twelve Pine-Richland High School students proved they could hold their own in the courtroom and recently captured first place in the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral Classic Mock Trial Tournament.
Competing against 52 teams from across the Commonwealth, three teams from Pine-Richland High School demonstrated exceptional poise, preparation and persuasive arguments, with Team A securing the top spot in this annual event sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Mock Trial Team and held at the Cathedral of Learning.
First place Team A includes lawyers Sanika Das, 11, Brooke Deegan, 11, Ian Hurt, 12, Nedda Immen, 12, Eliza Lazzaro, 12, and Deeya Nayyar, 11; and witnesses JoJo Barbiaux, 12, Anna Karmanos, 12, June McCune, 12, Ava Muster, 12, William Tamburri, 12, and Jillian Uzelac, 12.
John, left, and Piya, right
The 12 students of Team A will represent Pine-Richland at the annual Pennsylvania Bar Association Mock Trial Tournament in February. Nearly 300 student teams will compete in the annual event with the winning team representing Pennsylvania in the national tournament.
“The majority of the team has been working together since freshman year to achieve this goal and has put their full efforts into excelling this season,” said Mr. Len Caric, GATE teacher and Mock Trial coach. “We have high hopes for them in this year's state tournament.”
Senior John Folino (Team B) was named Exceptional Witness in the competition, and ninth-grader Piya Dargan (Team C) was named Exceptional Lawyer.
In Mock Trial, participants simulate a real courtroom trial by taking on the roles of lawyers and witnesses. Students practice case theory, presentation skills, acting, decorum and real-world legal procedures and arguments. Teams take either the side of the prosecution or defense and play to earn points to claim victory.
Mock Trial 2024-2025 Team