ACADEMICS IN ACTION The Notre Dame High School Mock Trial team claimed the county title this year, a first in school history. Pictured in the center are Ayanna Grunwald (L) and Stephanie Stahovich (R), the team's captains, who say that Mock Trial has proved to be invaluable in honing their communication and logic skills.
By Anneliese Esparza
Managing Editor
After seven rounds of competition, Notre Dame High School bested Poly High School in the 2022 Riverside County Mock Trial Competition finals, advancing to represent Riverside County at the state competition for the first time in school history. Notre Dame ultimately finished fourth in the state.
Poly High School is a powerhouse when it comes to Mock Trial (the Riverside school has claimed the county Mock Trial title 19 times in the past 40 years, and six times in the last 10 years) so defeating them was a major accomplishment for the relatively small Notre Dame.
With Mock Trial, students have a chance to argue fictional court cases in front of real judges. Students fill the courtroom roles of defense and prosecution attorney, witnesses, clerks and more.
Riverside County’s competition is open to high school students enrolled in public or private high schools in the county. Teams contain eight to 25 students; this year, Notre Dame had 11 competing members, in addition to some non-competing members who are observing and training for competition next year.
They might not have taken home the state championship, but the Notre Dame Mock Trial team was proud to represent their school and their county at the state competition.
“Riverside has such a strong Mock Trial program; it’s something Riverside is known for ... getting to show the program Riverside has on the state level is something really exciting for us,” said senior Ayanna Grunwald, one of Notre Dame’s Mock Trial captains.
Grunwald and her fellow Mock Trial captain Stephanie Stahovich, also a senior, said that Mock Trial teaches students valuable skills such how to think and articulate clearly, even under pressure. “Learning how to think logically and communicate to someone using efficient and proper language is something that Mock Trial has definitely taught me, but it’s also taught me a lot about leadership,” said Grunwald.
Stahovich said that Mock Trial has helped her be a more engaging speaker. “I’ve always been someone who really enjoys giving public speeches or talking in general, but Mock Trial took it a step further, and I learned from it how to speak so that people are not only listening, but they’re actually very interested in what you’re saying,” she said.
On the flip side, Stahovich added, Mock Trial helps students improve their listening skills. “There’s something called reading the judge, which is basically being able to understand, is the judge thinking you’re talking too much? Is the judge appreciative of what you’re doing, or should you dial it back a bit? Being able to read the expressions on someone’s face a little bit better than I normally would has really helped me in my own life, not just in Mock Trial,” she said.
Participation in Mock Trial is time-consuming; practices are usually about two hours long, three to four days a week, with optional weekend practices. But the intensive time commitment means that students and coaches have a chance to form strong bonds.
“You get a real sense of just how much the coaches truly care about us, especially since we spend so much time with them. They do really love us, and we love them. They’ve put so much time and energy into our Mock Trial team. It’s just really nice to be able to make that connection with them,” she said.
“I just have a love for Mock Trial; it’s so nice to come back every single day and be around the people that I love,” said Stahovich.
Grunwald agreed: “It truly is like a family,” she said.
During the pandemic, Mock Trial trial competitions are being conducted virtually, meaning that students have had to adjust to a different way of competing. “There’s something about being in person in a courtroom and just being able to stand up, and you can see that everyone’s eyes are watching you. And especially in closing arguments, you get to have what’s called a pin-drop moment, where it’s like you’ve made such a big, powerful statement that you could hear a pin drop in the room, and I do miss that about being in the courtroom,” said Stahovich.
On the bright side, though, Stahovich said she enjoys being able to turn off her camera to mentally prepare and take a deep breath before a closing statement.
“There is a difference [between doing Mock Trial virtually and doing it in person]; however, the elements of Mock Trial as far as the arguing and the camaraderie is definitely still there,” said Grunwald.
With their Mock Trial experience, Grunwald and Stahovich have both discovered a passion for law; the two plan on attending law school in the fall after they graduate high school. They both want to continue doing Mock Trial in college as well.
Grunwald and Stahovich were among four Notre Dame students to be individually recognized at the county level. Stahovich received a 1st Place award for Outstanding Clerk, and Grunwald received a 3rd Place award for Outstanding Defense Pretrial Motion Attorney. The other two Notre Dame award winning students were Aubrey Hernandez (Outstanding Bailiff, 2nd Place) and Emma Mermilliod (Witness: Toni Garrett, 3rd Place).
For her part, Mock Trial Teacher Coach Brigitte Zapata said she enjoys watching the Mock Trial students’ dedication and work ethic. “Every time I’m watching them either practice or compete, I’m just amazed at what they can do, considering they’re only high school students ... the way they’re able to pick up the information, they’re able to adapt it, come up with stuff randomly without being prepared by it ... I’m just blown away by all their hard work,” said Zapata.