SBUnified
By SB Unified
While most students spent the end of the school year studying for finals and preparing for college, Dos Pueblos Mock Trial students decided to compete in an international competition– without any help from adult coaches.
Instead, seniors Jacob Molina, Maxfield Steele, and Edo Barel coached themselves, along with the school’s B-team that competed in a lower league.
The seniors won the Empire Premier Spring League Championship while coaching the other “JV team” to the top 25% of teams in the Sapphire League.
The A-team competed against 19 other schools from across the country and China.
Dos Pueblos had to compete in four preliminary trials and three single-elimination playoffs to win the Empire Premier Spring League Championship.
In the open-entry Sapphire league, DP’s B-team tied for fourth, with Victoria Chen receiving an honorable mention as an attorney.
“While it’s impressive that this group of seniors took on this project during their last semester of high school, what makes it truly exceptional is that they cared enough about their teammates and the program to coach an entire additional team of less experienced mock trialers,” said coach Lisa Rothstein. “That’s the kind of unselfish commitment that makes DP Mock successful. From a coach’s perspective, it doesn’t get much better than that.”
Both teams were coached and led by seniors Edo Barel, Jacob Molina, and Maxfield Steele, who took on attorney and witness roles alongside Liam Avolio, Tobin Bohley Charlotte Choi, Amirsam Jabbari, Rachel Lenchner, and Sienna Valentine, who also received an outstanding witness award.
“The fact that when other students were at the peak of senioritis, they pulled together to bring out the best in each other and the best in their peers speaks to their character and is the best example of embracing individuality, overcoming differences, and putting the team ahead of the individual. DP Mock Trial will be left a better program from the imprint these seniors leave behind, “ said coach Christine Voss.
In the 2022-2023 school year. The Dos Pueblos Mock Trial Team finished second in California and third at Empire Baltimore.
Dos Pueblos last won Empire World Championship back in 2015.
“Time and time again, the Dos Pueblos Mock Trial Team impresses us with their motivation to reach higher and higher than ever before. When I think of this generation of students and our future, I remain optimistic. The way these students stepped up to help, leaving a lasting mark on their team, is what their generation is about. We wish the seniors on the team well and look forward to seeing how they succeed after graduation,” said Dr. Hilda Maldonado, Superintendent.
Quite impressive….Congratulations! No mention in the article about how our other high schools did in this competition. Of course, assuming that our other high schools have Mock Trial Teams.