No Objections: Mahwah Mock Trial Champions Of Bergen County

’s Mock Trial Team won the county championship title last week. Before they have even had time to let the victory sink in, the team is off to the state-regional competition today, where the mock lawyers, plaintiff, defendant, witnesses, and bailiff will compete against teams from about eight counties in the Northern New Jersey region.

Of the 30-member team, 10 students took on roles in the Bergen County Courthouse Thursday to play out their interpretation of a case provided to the team by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation, which sponsors the Vincent J. Apruzzese Mock Trial competition.

“Every year, they come up with very timely, current topics to address in their cases,” said attorney Michael Beatrice, who co-coaches the team with his wife, high school history teacher .

“This year, it was a civil case about negligence – an accident that involved a distracted driver and pedestrian who was texting while walking,” he explained.

Both advisors were extremely proud of their team’s performance, which had them beat competitors from Lodi, the Torah Academy, Paramus Catholic, , , and IHA.

“We’ve never had a group so dedicated. They met all of the time with us, and even when we couldn’t, they met on their own to get in extra practice,” said Mrs. Beatrice.

“On top of that, they really performed well. Mahwah was the only public school in the semifinals, and the only non-regional school in the quarterfinals,” added her husband. 

The students, many of whom aspire to one day become lawyers, were extremely pleased with the payoff of all of their hard work.

“We always find a way to get practice in, whether it means meeting on Christmas and New Year’s Eve, or running cross-examinations while we are passing each other in the hallways at school,” said Sam Waxenbaum, a junior who played the role of a defense lawyer in the mock trial.

“Each one of us works really hard at what we are doing, and that came through at competition.”

The entire team explained the important role teamwork played in their victory. 

“We are in a competition together; it really is about everyone on the entire team. We have to have a good connection with one another to be able to improv and work off of one another during the competition,” said senior Kristy Larsen.

“If we didn’t have a relationship where I could call my teammates at 11:00 at night to go over something I was unsure about, where we all help and rely on one another, we wouldn’t have won,” she said.

The team is extremely grateful for the guidance they receive, both in and out of the mock courtroom, from both of their coaches. 

“I have been taught so much by Mr. And Mrs. B,” said senior Connor Flood.

“They taught me confidence. If you can hold your own while Mr. B is cross-examining you, you actually become a stronger person. They really are lessons that I will take with me for the rest of my life,” he said.

Senior Shana Levenson, the plaintiff, summed up the feeling among the team.

“We really have gone from a club to a family. We all work together, rely on each other and really like each other. These people are truly like a family to me,” she said.

Congratulations and good luck to team members Kimberly Gillen, Connor Flood, David Nicholson, Kiersten Spencer, Kristy Larsen, Perry Starr, Justin Song, Kori Heisler, Sam Waxenbaum, Shana Levenson, and advisors Michael and Yvonne Beatrice.