Mason High School students achieved outstanding results at the 10th Annual University of Cincinnati High School Mock Trial Invitationals on January 6 and 7 at the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

Every year, the Ohio Center for Law Related Education (OCLRE) publishes a case that has been litigated, or is under appeal in an Ohio court of law. The case includes witness testimony given for the defense or the prosecution of the case, as well as exhibits that can be entered into evidence and pertinent case law argued before an appellate court or the US Supreme Court.

Danielle Lyons is the MHS Mock Trial head coach and Pat George is the assistant for the four Mason High School Mock Trial teams - Black, White, Green, and Grey. 

Each team has eight members who take on the roles of attorney (prosecution or defense) or witnesses for the prosecution or defense. Attorneys for either side break down their roles into opening statements or closing remarks, and each has a witness that he or she asks to testify. Attorneys must also be prepared to cross-examine witnesses called by attorneys on the opposing team, so they have to know the depositions given by each witness for the case, not just those called by their team.

"We are grateful that, for the past four years, local attorneys Jeff Rollman and Sallie Conyers have given generously of their time and expertise to prepare our teams to compete," shared George. "They prepare students to be credible witnesses and well-prepared attorneys. They have even served as "judges" when teams scrimmage each other and teams from other schools."

The UC Invitational is important because it gives teams a chance to try their case with relatively little pressure as their performance doesn't determine whether they advance to the next level. 

"For the past five years, Mason has had at least one team that advances from district competition to regionals," added George. "Two years ago, one of our teams made it to the state tournament in Columbus."

MHS students won the following titles:

Best Attorney - Shreya Gundavarpu

Outstanding Witness - Navya Kappuesetty

Best Attorney - Mikee Loyola

Outstanding Witness - Roberto Morales

Oustanding Witness - Alex Suarez

Each of this year’s tournaments consisted of two rounds, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The rounds were scored by the UC Mock Trial coaching staff and current undergraduate mock trial students.