Skyline Mock Trial Team Earns Fifth Place at Yale

Members of Skyline's Mock Trial team took on the challenge of preparing for another case over their summer break and then traveling to Yale University in New Haven, CT to compete against some of the strongest programs from around the nation.  "Eleven highly committed 'mock trialers' spent dozens of hours working to improve their trial skills, while their friends and family enjoyed the down time of summer," shared adviser Curtis von Trapp, who teaches CTE courses  in Criminal Justice and Police Forensics at Skyline.  

High school mock trial is an extracurricular program where students, under the guidance of adult coaches, simulate a criminal court case, taking on the roles of attorneys, witnesses, and court staff. They analyze a hypothetical case, develop strategies, and then argue their side of the case in a courtroom setting, learning valuable skills such as public speaking, critical thinking, and an understanding of the judicial system.   

Skyline's team competed in four rounds, on Saturday and Sunday with 2 ballots to be won or lost in each round.  Despite the stiff competition, Skyline went 7-1 with a point differential of over 150 and finished in 5^th place! The only public school to place in the top 10 and with 32 schools competing. "To top it off, our newest attorney, Ananya I. Was recognized as one of the top attorneys in the competition," shared von Trapp.

The trip served as both an competitive and cultural experience as the group toured sites in New York City prior to heading to Yale. They attended "Chicago" at the Ambassador theater, toured mid-town Manhattan including  the "Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center, walked and shopped 5th avenue, trekked through Central Park to explore the American Museum of Natural History and reached the gates of Columbia University. On Sunday, they continued with visits to the New York Stock Exchange and Federal Hall, Trinity Chapel and Alexander Hamilton's grave, then Battery Park, the 9/11 memorial and finally, Grand Central Station.