Brick Memorial High School is proud to highlight the exceptional performance of its Mock Trial Team in the 2024 competition season. Under the guidance of Advisor Mrs. Diana Corde-Leone, the team has demonstrated remarkable dedication and skill in preparing for this year’s case, United States of America v. Ellis Kirwin.
The team’s captains, Benjamin Neller and Katie Andras, have shown exemplary leadership in guiding their peers through the intricate details of the criminal case. The details of the fictional case involve allegations against Ellis Kirwin, Dean of Admissions for Metropolitan University, including the theft of honest services, involving over $100,000 in impermissible benefits from representatives of “We Get You In”, a local college placement program.
The prosecution team, led by lawyers Benjamin Neller and Sofia Salsa, along with the witnesses Nate Devlin (as Amari Simpson), Jakub Kriso (as Devon Morris), and Skylar Hillin (as Jean Cote), meticulously crafted their case to present a compelling argument. On the defense side, lawyers Clark Demarest and Katie Andras, supported by witnesses Eva Caravassilis (as Brighton Kershner), Sophie Daly (as Ellis Kirwin), and Lilah Breen (as Ola Tang), diligently prepared to counter the prosecution’s claims.
Behind the scenes, the team’s lead analysts Tyler Currurullo, Jude Smith, and Laurel-Lye Severin, along with timekeepers Daniel Lin and Michael Townley, and sketch artist Tatyana Williams, have played crucial roles in developing a comprehensive strategy. The jury members, Morgan Satter, Roman Saint-Cyr, Makayla Gorhan, and Kaylee Hender, will have the challenging task of evaluating the presentations.
The New Jersey State Bar Foundation provided this year’s case workbook in October 2023, setting the stage for months of intense preparation. The team has worked tirelessly to analyze the statement of facts, jury charges, witness statements, and exhibits, developing strong arguments for both sides of the case.
Practices began in September, intensifying as the competition approached, with the team meeting multiple times a week, including virtual sessions on weekends. The dedication of the students has been evident in their commitment to meeting the 70-hour requirement to earn a Varsity Letter.
Brick Memorial High School Mock Trial Team is eagerly anticipating the upcoming Mayor’s Cup (Brick v Brick) event. Scheduled for Monday, February 26, 2024, at the Brick Municipal Court, the competition will see Brick Memorial High School prosecuting against Brick Township High School’s defense team.
Mrs. Corde-Leone expressed her pride in the team’s accomplishments, stating, “These students work extremely hard to produce a finished product worthy enough to present in a real courtroom, in front of acting Judges. Every year coaches from opposing high schools comment on how ‘well put together’ our team is; Brick Memorial has truly become a school others fear to compete against. To say I am proud to be their coach is a true understatement, it is an honor.”
Additionally, Mrs. Corde-Leone provided insights into the team’s recent competitions, highlighting their performance against Central Regional and MATES. Despite a narrow loss to Central Regional by a small margin, which led Central to the Finals, the team achieved a victory against MATES. Although they did not advance to the semi-finals, the team faced tough competition during the preliminary rounds, resulting in harsher scoring due to the bracket-style system.
The Brick Memorial High School community stands proud of the Mock Trial Team’s dedication, hard work, and achievements, reflecting the school’s commitment to excellence in education and extracurricular activities.
