IWA competes in state mock trial competition

Incarnate Word Academy participated in the Regional High School Mock Trial program for the first time this year, competing with seven other area public and private schools.  Despite their first time in the competition, the Angels secured a first place win, which advanced them to 2012 State Mock Trial Competition in Dallas on March 3-4. 
 
At state, the Angels competed with 24 teams from other Texas schools.  Each team was guaranteed four trials. 
 
“Although we were not recognized as one of the top ten teams,” Debra Rodriguez, local attorney and IWA team coach, said, “our own Samantha Skurka was nominated for outstanding witness. Ten students were nominated out of approximately 144 witnesses, so it was a real honor.” 
 
Skurka, a senior, earned the nomination of "Outstanding Witness" for her characterization of a wealthy landowner on the witness stand.
 
The road to state was paved with very talented local competition, so new kids on the Mock Trial block were honored to make it to the state level. 
 
“This year was definitely exciting,” sophomore Annie Rodriguez, who acted as an attorney, said. “Our team never dreamed of going to State.” Other team members and coaches echoed her view. 
 
“The whole team has had such an amazing experience in Mock Trial this year,” Derek Ficenec, who was also an attorney on the team, said.   “It is our first year, and it is a true underdog story.   We are all so happy to have gotten this far and we are excited for the future.”
 
First-year teams in Mock Trial are typically considered underdogs.  “Most established teams have a foundation,” Rodriguez said.  “They have a fundamental understanding of law and the terminology.  We were at square one.  Our kids had to learn the basics—what is a plaintiff?  What is criminal? What is civil?”
 
The Angels were able to “up their game” by competing against the competent, seasoned teams that participated in the district and state competitions. “We gained so much just by watching and interacting with the other teams,” the Angel’s timekeeper, sophomore Theresa Gayle, said.
 
The IWA team members attribute their success to a collective mindset. “If there's one thing that helped out the most this year, it would be the teamwork everyone showed,” Annie Rodriguez says. Junior Shannay Baradaran who acted as a witness for the plaintiff agreed. “Working together as a team was key.  Each individual performance counted, earning points for the team,” Baradaran said.  
 
“I have never been part of a team when each part depends so much on the other. Every member of the team is essential to the case,” teammate Derek Ficenec said.  “It is the job of the attorneys to lead the team. In order to be the best, team members must know their part extremely well, and I am pleased to say that, because we have worked together, everyone knows their part and everyone works as a team.”
 
Locally, the Mock Trial program has a supportive community of more than 30 area attorneys who donate their time and expertise.  
 
“What made this experience even more enjoyable,” Attorney Rodriguez said,  “was the help received from two of the other Mock Trial team coaches—Kathleen Day and Kathy Tyree.” Day is a local attorney and the attorney-advisor for the Ray High School Mock Trial team. 
 
“Kathleen and I started Ray High School’s Mock Trial team last year,” Rodriguez said.  “As luck would have it, [we] faced off against each other in the finals after having a couple of joint practices.”   Day also worked with one of the Angel attorneys to help prepare for state. 
 
Attorney Catherine Tyree is a teacher at Blessed John Paul II High School and is the coach-advisor attorney for that team. 
 
“During the beginning, Cathy was extremely helpful with IWA’s brand new team,” Rodriquez said. “In our match against them [John Paul II] this year, Cathy joined the teams in a group prayer before our trial.  These two attorney-coaches put the kids ahead of friendly rivalry and exhibited what Corpus Christi is best known for:  its community spirit.”
 
“I would be remiss if I didn’t mention William Patrick Delgado, the Assistant District Attorney.  He is a Carroll High School graduate and has dedicated untold hours mentoring students in their Mock Trial preparation.  He has given up weekends and weekends.  We are very grateful for his continued support,” Rodriguez said.
 
The Mock Trial program in the Coastal Bend saw significant growth in school participation this year.  Gregory-Portland and Collegiate joined IWA as first-year competitors.  The level of competition also raised.  Mock Trial coordinator, Attorney Tim Dowling said this year’s district challenge was “the best-high quality competition” he had seen in his seven years of participating in the program.
 
Local organizers are hoping that at least two more area high schools will join the program for next year.  Districts with 10 teams participating are eligible to send two teams to State.  Rodriguez said, “Hello King?  Hello Moody or Miller?  There are great coaches who will pitch in to help you get started. Just call us.”
 
Since its inception in 1979 by the Dallas Bar Association, the Texas High School Mock Trial Competition has touched more than 100,000 high school students, and $300,000 has been awarded in scholarships to those participating.  Locally, the Corpus Christi Bar Association raises money to award to its local participants.  This year, the bar raised more than $7,500 in scholarship money.
 
The IWA faculty advisor for the team, theatre arts teacher Stephanie Myers, worked with the team witnesses on their portrayals. 
 
“The program provides a great way for students to gain an ‘insider’s view’ of our judicial system,” Myers said.  “Plus, they gain confidence speaking in front of others and have a lot of fun at the same time.  I am so impressed by these students’ performances in the competition. I do see the attorneys of tomorrow.”