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Community Corner

MICDS Mock Trial Team Wins State Championship

This team of Whiz Kids defeated tough competitors and now heads to nationals.

Name: MICDS Mock Trial team

School: MICDS

Accomplishment: Won the Missouri High School Mock Trial Competition

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Key to awesomeness:

For the second year in a row, the mock trial team from MICDS won the state championship. Led by teacher Chris Rhodes, the team of nine students gave up part of its spring break in order to practice and attend the competition.

“Missouri, and the St. Louis region in particular, is incredibly viable and competitive for mock trial,” Rhodes said. “We knew that if we didn’t put in that time we would be knocked out of the competition.”

The team was made of students from all levels of the upper school. The attorneys were: seniors Caroline Rouse and Aash Chalasani; junior Teddy Murphy; and sophomore Christina Rouse. Witnesses were seniors Vivek Biswas and Will Johnston; and juniors Lauren Hutton-Work, Corthay Schock, and Ali Dalton.

Caroline has been involved in the mock trial team for four years. “I learned about the program in eighth grade when team members did a demonstration. It has given me confidence and helped my public speaking skills,” she said. “You have to think on your feet and make up questions on the fly.” Caroline said last year’s trip to nationals was a real privilege and incredible experience. She is
hoping to study ethics, political science and economics in college next year.

Christina, Caroline’s younger sister, got involved in the team as a freshman. “It’s a great group of people and we really support one another. Participating in the team gives you a lot of confidence because you have to be able to talk without your notes and think on your feet. You have to improvise and need to exude confidence,” she said. Christina said one of the reasons she thinks the program is so great is the chance to work with upperclassmen and see how they’ve mastered skills over time.

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Vivek, student council president, always had an interest in politics and after these past two years on the team is considering looking into studying law. “Being on the team helped me with my public speaking and I’ve enjoyed getting to know the team members. We spend a lot of time together whether practicing or the other things we do before a trial.” As a witness, Vivek has to study his
statement, or deposition, and review the evidence. Once on the stand he has to answer questions from the opposition as well as from his own attorneys. Vivek will be attending Washington University in the fall where he would like to study mechanical engineering and political science.

Rhodes said the team was judged on how well the members knew the law, proved the elements of the case, presented the story, and organized their questions. For the national competition in early May, seven students will participate on the team. Last year, the MICDS team, which is coached by Rebecca Nickelson, a trial lawyer with HeplerBroom LLC, finished fourth out of 48 teams.

Want to nominate a Patch Whiz Kid or team or group?  Send names, ages, information and a JPG photo to james.baer@patch.com.

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