For the first time in nine years, our Mock Trial team made it to the 3rd round of the playoffs, where the top 16 teams in the county played against each other to earn a spot in the top 10 for the next round. Unfortunately, we failed to advance further; however, rather than looking at this year’s run as a failure, I see it as a stepping stone to bigger and better accomplishments in the future.

This year’s team showed exceptional skill and preparation as they argued one of the most complex cases in recent Mock Trial history: a homicide involving a celebrity chef whose dish was (allegedly) tampered with poisonous mushroom during the filming of a cooking competition show. The prosecution claimed that one of the contestants intentionally added a toxic mushroom into the judge’s dish, while the defense argued it was a tragic accident from the misidentification of the indistinguishable toxic mushroom, and that the murder could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Our witnesses brought depth and credibility to their roles, performing expertly during both direct- and cross-examination. Alongside myself, attorneys Yonatan Shafigi and Moshe Yosef Kerendian delivered confident examinations along with powerful opening and closing statements; moreover, they impeached one of the prosecution’s witnesses through intense scrutiny during cross-examination. 

This perfect chemistry and teamwork led to the defense unanimously winning their verdict of not guilty; however, although we beat our own record in points from the previous two rounds, it ultimately was not enough to win. The Mock Trial program, supported by dedicated teachers like Mr. Jennings and students who committed countless hours to practice, is wKiKiddush Hashemank for this achievement. Our playoff run is more than just a competitive success, it’s a testament to each of the students’ personal commitment to produce a Kiddush Hashem that will live on in Valley Torah history.