Mock trial team wins case, title

The Central High School mascot may be the Scarlet Dragons, but some of the students also have shown they are legal eagles.

The Central mock trial team won the Pennsylvania championship Saturday and will represent the Keystone State at the national contest in May in Georgia.

Team members Abby Kreider, Angela Banks, Kate Hoover, Drake Dodson, Mara Hershberger, Eli Hershberger, Leah Stiles, Blake Steele and Brianna Musselman had to defeat some previous state winners to claim the crown.

Their teacher coach is Brad Heuston, while Tripp "Warren" Crilly and Julie Mills served as lawyer coaches.

The Central students were praised by the chairman of the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division "for demonstrating outstanding teamwork and the excellent communication and analytical skills needed to win this year's championship."

In the competition, students act as lawyers, witnesses, defendants and plaintiffs to argue a case before a judge, volunteer lawyers and community leaders, who act as the jury and award points based on poise and reliance on notes.

Central played the plaintiff, while Overbook High School of Philadelphia served as the defense in the state championship round with U.S. District Judge Thomas I. Vanaskie presiding.

The case centered on an employer's potential liability for the negligent actions of an employee.

Polishing their skills to become state champions required a big investment of time. The Central students this year spent 10 to 20 hours a week practicing for the competitions, their coach said.

The Central mock trial team members deserve tremendous praise for their state championship, and kudos also go to the Morrisons Cove community, which formed a motorcade to welcome the team home Saturday night.

It's nice to see the same type of treatment given for an academic achievement that is often displayed for sports championships.

It was a winning display all the way around.