The Abington Heights mock trial team didn’t win the statewide mock trial competition this year but the team’s leaders say they are proud of the work the members put in this year.
The team competed in the state finals in late March at the Dauphin County Courthouse in Harrisburg. During the competition, the team split ballots in its first trial against Roman Catholic High School and won the second trial against Cumberland Valley High School.
“As such, we went 1-1,” Daniel Cummins, one of the team’s attorney advisers, said in an email this week. “Only undefeated teams continued onto the Final Four.”
Central High School in Philadelphia won the competition, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. Abington Heights was among 14 finalists that competed this year.
The winner of the state final advances to the national competition, which will be held later this week in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Abington Heights team captured the state title three of the last five years and won the national competition last year.
They went to the state competition after winning the district championship against North Pocono High School and the regional competition against Delaware Valley High School in early March.
Although the outcome wasn’t what the team wanted, sophomore member Chris Cummins said they put in their best effort and appreciates his teammates.
“I think no matter what the result was, even whether we won or we lost, I think we were going to be at least somewhat happy with how it turned out,” he said.
Chris, who competed for the second time at the state competition, said being at the state competition was valuable experience, with many of the 12 members who headed to the competition competing for the first time. He also said mock trial is about more than competing, as he and his teammates read the case, interpret the materials, present their argument and speak in public, skills that can be used outside of mock trial.
Members of the Abington Heights Mock Trial team portraying attorneys during the state competition in March were, from left, Amishi Amit, Nolan Moore and Mark Barbrack. Sitting behind them are, from left, Ava Shedlauskas, J.T. Healey, Leen Abughnia. (Courtesy of Daniel Cummins)
Members of the Abington Heights Mock Trial team participated in the state competition in March in Harrisburg. Playing attorneys during the competition were in the front row, from left, Ananya Phadke, Zachary Riggall and Sadie Robson. Those portraying witnesses sitting behind them were, from left, Henry Mahoney, Ava Whalen and Chris Cummins. (Courtesy of Daniel Cummins)
Abington Heights Mock Trial team member Chris Cummins prepares to compete as a witness at the state competition in March. (Courtesy of Daniel Cummins)
“We are immensely proud of this team which was, in some ways, even more impressive than the team that won the National Championship last year,” the older Cummins said. “We were a very young team in what we thought was a rebuilding year. But the students all pulled together and worked extremely hard to not only return as the District Champions but also the Regional Champions. We are very proud of this team and hope to build upon our success in next year’s competition.”
Abington Heights Principal Lee Ann Theony is also proud of the team.
“The students far exceeded any expectations as this was being considered a rebuilding year, since so many students graduated last year,” she said in an email. “However, on the shoulders of giants the torch has been passed and the new members effectively stepped into their shoes and had a season decorated with success. We are very proud of our students, appreciative of the time our coaching team puts into them, and thankful to Lackawanna County that continues to offer us a robust Mock Trial experience.”
In addition to Chris, those competing were seniors Zachary Riggall, Ava Shedlauskas, J.T. Healey and Ava Whalen, junior Mark Barbrack, sophomores Amishi Amit, Henry Mahoney, Nolan Moore and Ananya Phadke, and freshmen Sadie Robson and Leen Abughnia.
They are led by coaches Denise Bennett and Anne Cummins, and attorney advisers Joseph (Jody) T. Healey, of Cipriani and Werner, and the older Cummins of Cummins Law.
Monday update
Then: The Abington Heights mock trial team was preparing for the state competition after winning the district and regional mock trial competitions.
Now: The team, most of which competed for the first time, didn’t win the competition this year.