This year, the Carbondale Area Mock Trial team had its most successful season in many years. The team took part in the annual Lackawanna County Bar Association high school mock trial competition. Students prepared and practiced for over four months, and saw a great deal of success, appearing in the district finals. The case, revolving around the liability of an obstacle course racing company for the death of one of their competitors, was argued on both sides by team members.
In Round 1, the defendant team defeated Valley View. Kaci Bannon was named “Best Advocate” and Dylan Ofner was named “Best Witness.”
In Round 2, the plaintiff team defeated Scranton Prep to advance to district semifinals. Megan Cosklo was named “Best Advocate” and Audrey Cobb was named “Best Witness.”
After a long layoff, the plaintiff team took on Holy Cross in the district semifinals and were victorious. Kylie Kelly earned the “Best Advocate” honors this time, and Audrey Cobb repeated her “Best Witness” performance.
The team then once again competed against Scranton Prep in the district finals, with the defendant team arguing their case in the championship trial. Kaci Bannon and Dylan Ofner repeated their award-winning performances, but the team came up just short, as the jury ruled in favor of the plaintiff.
Team members were:
Seniors: Co-Captain Shauna Durst, Co-Captain Emily Seymour, Audrey Cobb, Katelyn Ostrander, and Kyleigh Wallace.
Juniors: Kaci Bannon, Caden Brennan, Jocelyn Brown, Megan Cosklo, Kylie Kelly, Dylan Ofner, and Juliette Racht.
Sophomore: Hong Tran
Teacher Advisor is Mr. Carm Perri.
Congratulations to all on a job well done!
