Perrysburg competes in District Mock Trial

The Perrysburg Mock Trial Club received materials, State of Buckeye v. Adam Smith, for the 2017/18 High School Mock Trial Competition last September along with 344 other teams across the state. After endless hours of practice, three Perrysburg teams: Justitia Foedus (Justice League), Ceteris Paribus (Other Things Being Equal) and Carpe Atrium (Seize the Court) competed in District Mock Trial competition on January 26, 2018 in the Wood County Court of Common Pleas.

Team Justitia Foedus was victorious as Abdurrehman Khan was awarded overall Outstanding Attorney and Aastha Bhavsar was awarded Outstanding Witness in District Competition. Other team members include: Hunter Logan, Defense Attorney; Emma Viles and John Robinson, Prosecution Attorneys; Jillian Craig and Sydney Meade, Prosecution Witnesses and Shirvari Brahme, Defense Witness. Abdur was also awarded Outstanding Attorney in Regional Competition and Sydney was awarded Outstanding Witness. Team Justitia Foedus missed advancing to State Mock Trial Competition by one vote.

Team Ceteris Paribus missed advancing to Regional Competition by one point, as well. The team consists of: Leah Roberts and Chloe Wegener, Defense Attorneys; Katie McGivern and Hanan Sjah, Defense Witnesses; Elizabeth Huff and Olivia Thomas, Prosecution Attorneys and Jordan Barnes and Thomas Clark-Phelps, Prosecution Witnesses. Jonathan Beck is the Bailiff/Timekeeper. Chloe Wegener was awarded Outstanding Attorney and Hanan Sjah was awarded Outstanding Witness in District Competition.

Team Carpe Atrium includes Evan Leong and Michael Rausch as Defense Attorneys; Avery Thompson and Mia Wegener as Defense Witnesses; Jerrick Ban and Jack Thompson as Prosecution Attorneys and Junbo Chen and Annabel Shim and Prosecution Witnesses. Evan Leong was awarded Outstanding Attorney and Mia Wegener was awarded Outstanding Witness in District Competition.

The Perrysburg Mock Trial Club is coached by Kent Riesen, Esq., Dr. Beth Rohrbacher, Mary Sue Barone, Esq., Robert Quick and Judge S. Dwight Osterud, ret. Pinkie Edens also assisted with the regional competition.

High School Mock Trial is an opportunity for students to develop creative thinking, listening and writing skills along with public speaking. It is the largest academic program in the state. It also teaches high school students about court procedure and Constitutional issues so they may become better informed citizens. Perrysburg Mock trial is in its 17th year.