Chaminade Mock Trial has accomplished what no team from Los Angeles County ever has: they reached the semifinals at the California State Championship two years in a row. This is on top of their history-making victory in November 2016; a back-to-back Los Angeles County Championship in the senior division, and a concurrent first-place win in the junior division.
As was the case last year, the Legal Eagles first had to prevail in the largest county Mock Trial competition in the country, and defeat more than 90 different teams. No school has ever repeated as Los Angeles County Champion in a field of this size.
Winning qualified the team to represent Los Angeles County at the State Championship held in Riverside. From the beginning, Chaminade was considered one of the teams to beat. In their first round, the Prosecution Team defeated the county champion, Justin-Sienna High School (Napa). In Round 2, Chaminade’s Defense Team faced and defeated former State Champion Redlands High School (San Bernardino). The Defense was called upon again in Round 3 to win against former State Champion and reigning Sacramento County Champion Elk Grove High School.
Wins in the first three rounds secured the Legal Eagles a spot in one of two semifinal rounds against Shasta High School (Shasta). In their third match of the day in a packed courtroom, Chaminade was narrowly defeated. However, their 3-1 record and scores secured Chaminade fourth place overall at State. This is ahead of former State Champions and Mock Trial Powerhouse schools Menlo, Tamalpais, Riverside Poly, Centennial, Redlands, Elk Grove and La Reina.
This year’s case was People v. Awbrey, where the Defendant, Cameron Awbrey was charged with the Human Trafficking and False Imprisonment of the chef of his new restaurant, a young immigrant from the fictional country of Tanterra.
Three members of the team were recognized for their performances during the competition, including Bryce Hurless ’17 who received the most outstanding witness award for his portrayal of the Defendant Cameron Awbrey. Others receiving recognition include attorneys Samantha Bader ’18 and Louis Gerny ’18.
The members of the 2016-17 Mock Trial Team are Maxwell Newman ’17, Conor Fairtlough ’17, Spencer Levitt ’17, Lexi Afradi ’17, Veronica Mansour ’17, Christine Gotthardt ’17, Christopher Azarloza ’17, Bryce Hurless ’17, Kristina Marter ’17, Samantha Bader ’18, Louis Gerny ’18, Rebecca Steinberg ’18, Spencer Delgado ’18, Hannah Sellfors ’18, Bryce Shirley ’18, Claire Fairtlough ’19, Isiuwa Omoigui ’19, Julia Wilson ’19, Brenna Cheney ’19 and Chloe Johnson ’19. The team is coached by Jennifer and Bert Bader.