Rhinelander Mock Trial Team Competes at Nationals

MADISON, May 18, 2006 – Wisconsin's Rhinelander High School Mock Trial Champions placed 23rd in the National Mock Trial championship in Oklahoma City last weekend. Rhinelander competed against teams from 39 states as well as Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and South Korea for the national title.

Nine team members with teacher coach Kathy Vick-Martini and attorney coaches Mike Bloom and Jim Jacobi of Rhinelander made the trip to compete in Oklahoma. The students are Diana Bess, Alyssa Freund, Kaylee Griffin, Eric Hanson, Rahul Jain, Sarah Kinney, Arne Klein, Lauren Mathea and Brian Pekol. This year marks the 13th time Rhinelander High School has taken first place state honors.

"The mock trial competition helps high school students to develop and test critical thinking and public speaking skills while exposing students to the atmosphere of a real life legal situation," said State Bar of Wisconsin Law-related Education Committee chairperson Attorney Lindsey Draper. "During the tournament these students hone their skills and participate as witnesses and lawyers in a case."

During mock trial rounds, judges evaluate the students based on their familiarity of the case and the formulation of their arguments. Students earn points for each phase of the trial – opening, direct and cross examination, closing argument and how well their witnesses respond. This year's case took place at a rodeo in which one of the competitors is accused of second-degree murder after allegedly tampering with a fellow competitor's reins, which ultimately caused her death after being bucked from her horse.

During the championship, Rhinelander teacher coach Kathy Vick-Martini received the Golden Gavel Award, an annual award presented at the National Mock Trial Championship. The award recognizes Vick-Martini's length of service in the national mock trials as well as her many contributions to both the state and national programs.

"Kathy Vick-Martini is the third Wisconsin person to receive this honor in the five years the award has existed," said Draper. "This is a testament to the excellence of the Wisconsin program in our schools."

More information about Wisconsin's Mock Trial program can be found at www.legalexplorer.com/mocktrial/.

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