By Heather Collins
Students on the Carmel High School Mock Trial Team are learning real-world skills to prepare for a future career in a court room — and are excelling along the way.
The CHS Mock Trial Team finished 17-1 on the season. It recently competed in the regional and state Mock Trail Competitions sponsored by the Indiana Bar Association and the county competition sponsored by the Hamilton County Bar Association.
The team has been competing in the county level competition for the 17 years, but this is the first year the team competed in the regional and state competitions. In the state competition, held March 4 and 5 in Indianapolis, the team placed first out of 24 teams following five rounds of competition.
“They performed just absolutely outstanding,” said Holly Hochstedler, mock trial sponsor and CHS accounting and business law teacher.
During the academic competition the students are presented a packet of evidence, depositions, affidavits, investigation reports and witness statements. According to Hochstelder, the students must be prepared to think on their feet, just as attorneys and witnesses do in real life.
The CHS team was the runner-up in the final round of the state competition against the John Adams High School Mock Trial Team. The final state round was presided over by Justice Steven David of the Indiana State Supreme Court. The event was held at the Indiana War Memorial.
The team earned several individual awards, including four Best Attorney Awards, five Best Witness Awards and one scholarship winner.
Indiana Mock Trial rules prohibit teams from revealing its school identity, therefore the CHS team chose “America’s Next Top Lawyer” as its team name.
The team is coached by Hochstedler and Carmel attorney Rodney Sarkovics.
Individual awards
The CHS mock trial team earned several individual awards, including:
Andrew Ardizone, Best Witness, Hamilton County Competition; Best Witness, Indianapolis Regional Competition; Best Witness, Indiana State Competition
Alina Husain, Best Attorney, Indiana State Competition
Abby Leonard, Best Prosecuting Attorney, Hamilton County Competition; Best Attorney, Indianapolis Regional Competition; Winner of Hamilton County Bar Association Scholarship
Drew Seketa, Best Witness, Hamilton County Competition; Best Witness, State Championship Finals
