County Council recognizes Seattle Prep’s Mock Trial Champions

June 16, 2014

Summary

High school beats teams from 45 states in national competition

Story

A contentious end to a business partnership, a doctored energy drink, and a “zombie run,” the ingredients for a “delicious” court trial, and the recipe for a national championship for Seattle Prep High School. The Metropolitan King County Council today recognized the Seattle Prep Mock Trial team for winning the 2014 National High School Mock Trial Championship.

“This is a tremendous achievement for a team and coach that has become nationally recognized for their skills in the ‘courtroom’,” said Councilmember Larry Gossett, who represents the district where Seattle Prep is located and was the sponsor of the recognition. “It’s an honor to recognize the academic achievements of these young people.”

“Bringing a case to trial—and winning—is a challenge for even seasoned lawyers,” said Council Chair Larry Phillips. “The work done by the Prep Mock Trial team is a remarkable accomplishment.”

Hosted this year by the State Bar Association of Wisconsin, the National Mock Trial competition is designed to create a greater understanding of the American judicial system through student competition.

Seattle Prep team has become a nationally-recognized power and this year brought home the title in a case involving a messy business breakup, a poisoning and a “zombie run.”

Coached by Andy McCarthy, the Seattle Prep team represented the “plaintiff” — the dead man’s half-brother and confidant — in the wrongful-death action. In an event that involved high school students from 45 other states as well as Guam, South Korea and the Northern Marianas Islands, Prep won their case—and the National Championship.

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RECOGNITION

WHEREAS, King County is now home to two National High School Mock Trial Champions, with Seattle Preparatory School’s 2014 championship team joining Franklin High School’s 2000 championship team; and

WHEREAS, the Seattle Prep Mock Trial Team consisting of Will Daniels, Anna Ferron, Caroline Genster, Max Kroeger, Molly McCarthy, Alexander McCullough, Patrick Paulsen, Casey Schmidt, and Elizabeth Shields won the National High School Mock Trial Championship in Madison, Wisconsin on May 10, 2014; and

WHEREAS, in order to win the National crown, the Seattle Prep Mock Trial Team outperformed the state champions of Iowa, Florida, Connecticut, Illinois, South Carolina, and forty other states; and

WHEREAS, the Seattle Prep Mock Trial team consisting of the aforementioned nine students as well as Isabella Kres-Nash, Dylan Moorleghen, Olivia Morrow, Elijah Pasco, Ryan Sodora, and Michael Thorson won the Washington State High School Mock Trial Championship in Olympia, Washington on March 30, 2014, under the sponsorship of the YMCA Youth & Government Program; and

WHEREAS, the Seattle Prep Mock Trial Team has achieved an impressive record of success with eight consecutive State championships, ten State championships in the past twelve years, and eight top-ten finishes at Nationals in the past twelve years, under the skilled leadership of Seattle Prep faculty coaches Andy McCarthy and Jennifer Freeman, and a dedicated group of assistant coaches and volunteers;

NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Metropolitan King County Council, recognize and congratulate

STUDENTS AND COACHES OF
THE 2014 SEATTLE PREP MOCK TRIAL PROGRAM

for their exemplary commitment, accomplishment, and teamwork clearly exhibited in achieving the highest pinnacle of excellence in mock trial in the State and the Nation.

DATED this sixteenth day of June, 2014



Councilmembers are joined by the students and staff of the Seattle Prep High School Mock Trial team. The team won the 2014 Mock Trial National Championship in May.