Mock Trial ends season 9th in the state
The SJ Mock Trial delivered an impressive year of trials in 2016
Written by Christian Suglia, Co-Captain
The Saint John’s Mock Trial team of 2016 has been one of the most successful in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and one of the best of all time at the school. After successfully winning six trials, they were defeated at their seventh by the Canton High School team with a final score of 94-95.
This year’s trial was a civil case focused on medical malpractice through negligence. There were originally two scrimmages against Hopkington High and Holy Name, where SJ represented the defense and was twice victorious.
After these scrimmages, three preliminary trials took place which decide the top 32 teams in the state. Saint John’s faced RC Mahar Regional School, Wachusett Regional High School, and Tantasqua Regional Senior High School. The team faced RC Mahar and Wachusett as the defense, and Tantasqua as the plaintiff, and won all three trials to proceed to the playoffs with 32 other teams.
SJ then moved on to the tournament rounds at Clark University on March 6, 2016. Zachary Coderre, Connor Martin, Tyler Farmer, Liam Kelleher, Andrew Bowman, Christian Suglia, Brendan Kelleher, Harrison Sims, Dennis Sweeny, Dan North, Srikar Poruri, and Treston Magnacca participated in the trail. In the morning, they faced Methuen High School, and came out victorious as the plaintiff with a score of 106 to 97.
Co-captain Liam Kelleher remarked about the first round of the playoffs, “We had a great judge who knew the Mock Trial procedures, and we clearly succeeded through our knowledge of the case and ability to perform without the use of notes to aid us.” The afternoon trial, where Saint John’s represented the defense against Canton High School, was unequivocally the most difficult contest that the the team has ever participated in for as long as the Coach Mrs. Carol Fredette, can remember. She commented on this strenuous trial, saying, “I’m sorry that we lost because our team was so well prepared and worked so hard for many months. Our seniors in particular really stepped up this year and took a lot of the organization and mentoring off my hands. I am really going to be sorry to see them go.”
Zach Coderre, the final Attorney co-captain, reflected on the heated final trial. “It was definitely my hardest trial and this judge put my four years of Mock Trial knowledge to the test.” The Mock Trial team this year, led by both Teacher Coach Mrs. Fredette and Attorney Coach Mr. William M. McGourty Esq., displayed their abilities to analyze, synthesize, and prepare a complex case and the masterfully presented it to a total of seven judges.
Overall, the Saint John’s Mock Trial Team tied to finished as the 9th best Mock Trial team out of a total of 132 teams and it was an honor to participate in the first two rounds of the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Tournament.
