Ann Sobrato High School’s mock trial team will try to match wits with the best in the state after coming out victorious Feb. 23 in the Santa Clara County High School Mock Trial competition.
Eighteen students make up Sobrato’s county championship squad with each taking on a role as one of eight attorneys, eight witnesses, a bailiff and a clerk. The team will compete March 18-20 in Sacramento against 38 schools from across the state.
Four-year team members are Natalie Kuwatani, Jacob Nunes, Isabella Cova, Erica Kelley and Adrianna Scalzo. They were joined this year by seniors Parth Shah, Arthur Rodriguez and Brian Freimuth; juniors Raya Kavosh, Nicholas Dinato and Stephen Curry; sophomores Maria Morris, Kaley Raczyla and Veronica Mishriki; and freshmen Zaria Kelley, Danielle Dokter, Austin Hoang and Grace Baker.
“We are so proud of our team and their dedication to this program,” Sobrato Principal Courtney Macko said. “Their poise and professionalism under pressure as well as their expertise of the case and the law has been remarkable for all of us to witness in the courtroom.”
Four preliminary rounds were held in February inside San Jose’s Superior Court as 25 teams made up the largest field ever for the county competition. Attorneys award points to teams based on their knowledge of the case and the law, as well as for performance.
“What is also impressive is that this group is comprised of a broad representation of the talent at our campus,” Macko added. “Not only do they excel in the classroom, but they also bring to the table the skills they have developed through our athletic, drama, music and leadership programs on campus.”
Sobrato’s team finished the preliminary rounds with a perfect 4-0 record and was one of eight teams to advance into the final elimination rounds. In the championship round, they came out on top of a head-to-head battle with Willow Glen High School.
“Willow Glen has won the county title many times in the past and they proved to be an extremely challenging opponent,” said Howard Barnes, lead advisor for the Sobrato squad. “This is the best team I’ve ever coached.”
Barnes credited Shah’s poise and articulation; Erica Kelley’s strong opening statement; and trial attorneys Kavosh, Erica Kelley and Freimuth for establishing a quick rapport with the witnesses.
Morris, Nunes, Rodriguez and Zaria Kelley excelled in their performances as security guards, police officers and evidence experts, according to Barnes.
“They fired back at Willow Glen’s cross-examination questions, fighting for the prosecution,” added Barnes, who also praised Freimuth’s convincing closing argument. “I could not be more proud of this group of students.”
Founded in 2005 by Barnes, the Sobrato mock trial team was helped along by two attorney coaches: Matthew Parella, with the Department of Justice; and Jeff Nunes, who practices in Morgan Hill. This year, Barnes was also assisted by teacher Marcus Humphrey.
“These students represent the best and brightest this district and specifically Sobrato HS has to offer,” said Nunes as the team was given a proclamation from Morgan Hill Unified School District’s Board of Education at the March 1 meeting.
