The Plaintiff Win
The Fallston Mock Trial team started its season strong with an impressive win against The John Carroll School. The trial marked Fallston’s first competition of the year, and the team showed focus and confidence throughout the trial. Fallston competed on the plaintiff side, while John Carroll was for the defense.
From the start of the trial, Fallston set the tone of the trial with a clear opening statement. Attorneys presented strong arguments and asked amazing questions. The witnesses stayed calm under pressure and gave testimony that supported the plaintiff’s case. Although John Carroll put up a competitive defense, Fallston’s preparation helped secure the win.
One of the biggest highlights of the trial was the individual performances from several team members. Mac Fisher, Cole McCumbers, and Carly Constantino each earned a perfect 10 score, the first of the season for the team. Their performances played a major role in Fallston’s success and set a high standard for the rest of the season.
This opening victory gave the team an important confidence boost. Winning the first trial helps establish momentum and allows the team to see what is working well early on. Coaches and team members were pleased with the overall performance, but also noted areas for improvement as the season continues.
During the competition, Fallston went over the time limit in a few sections. This caused some to feel rushed at the end. To fix this, the team plans to cut down on unnecessary questions and focus only on the most important points. Improving time management of the questions will help the team perform more smoothly in Baltimore County trials, where time management really matters.
After competing on the plaintiff side, Fallston is now shifting its focus to the defense team. This change requires a different strategy, like a whole new side to the case and new witness roles. Practices will now focus on framing the defense case and preparing to respond to opposing arguments effectively.
Fallston’s next trial will be against Aberdeen High School, and the team is already working hard to crush them. With a strong first win, talented team members, and continued dedication, Fallston Mock Trial is looking forward to another competitive trial and a successful season ahead.
The Defense Win
Just one week after the plaintiff’s win, Fallston Mock Trial dominated again. This time, the defense team won 117 to 105 versus Aberdeen High School.
After their one-point victory over them last season in the quarterfinals, this 12-point win meant a lot to the team. The high scorers of the night were article contributors Sammy Evans and Anna Newman. Evans scored a nine on both direct and cross questioning, and Newman scored a nine on her direct performance.
The defense lawyers were Evans, Gabriella Blasko, and Sydney Nwachukwu. This was Nwachukwu and Blasko’s first trial, and they still scored high. Nwachukwu was also in charge of the opening statements, which contributed to their success.
The witnesses for the defense were Newman, Regan McLaughlin, and Colt Warner. Newman and Mclaughlin are team veterans, but this was Warner’s first trial. They all scored eights and above, which means “Strong” in terms of mock trial scoring.
One of the highlights of the trial was Evans’ performance on cross-examination. She questioned the expert of the case, Dr. Miller Gonikman. In doing so, she got shoutouts from Judge Adkins-Tobin for her performance. This official judge said that her performance was “outstanding” and one of the best cross-examinations she has ever seen as a mock trial judge.
Newman also got shoutouts from this judge, who said she was a “very likable witness.” She was the defendant in the trial, so this was an important witness for the win. Another witness, Warner, who played the warden of the prison, was also praised for his work. Additionally, watchers told McLaughlin that her performance as a gang leader was very convincing.
The defense team will be competing in back-to-back trials, with an upcoming trial against Edgewood. After that, the plaintiff side will take the lead again and will compete against North Harford in the final preliminary match.
