Congratulations to the team from Brookfield Central High School, taking first place in the state finals round of the Wisconsin High School Mock Trial Tournament. Visit the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Facebook page for more photos of the finals round and the banquet celebration.

March 18, 2026 – It was the end of the state championship round of the Wisconsin High School Mock Trial Tournament.

Looking out at the two participating teams, head judge Katie Kegel, a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge, stood to announce the winner. But first, she told them this: “There are no losers in this room. None.”

All the students demonstrated courage, preparation, teamwork, professionalism, and adaptability, she said. The students know the law and the case “like the back of your hand,” she said. “You know what your strengths are and you make a conscious decision about those things.”

Those are the lessons all mock trial participants learn. “You don’t get to be the first at anything, or the best at anything unless you step out and have the courage to do so,” she told them.

Congratulations to Brookfield Central

On March 6 and 7, 20 high school teams from across the state gathered in Madison for the competition’s semifinal rounds to decide which two teams faced each other in the championship finals.

By Sunday afternoon, the champion was decided: Brookfield Central High School finished first, Madison West was the runner-up. Congratulations to both teams!

The final round was a rematch from 2022, when the Brookfield Central won the finals round against Madison West in a competition that took place via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The rematch took place March 8, 2026, in the State Capitol in Madison.

Brookfield Central will now compete in the National High School Mock Trial Championship in Des Moines, Iowa on May 7-9, 2026.

You can see the final round from March 8, 2026, on WisconsinEye.

Randa Amer, an attorney for Madison West, gives an argument during an objection from the plaintiff during the state finals round.

The Brookfield Central teams have four coaches: attorney coaches Morgan Risseeuw and Adam Schleis, and teacher-coaches Jon Vogt and Kate Korajarvi.

The team, said Vogt, both “used their intellect and personality” and “poured their hearts” into putting together their case this year. The preparation “takes countless hours on weekends, evenings, and early mornings.” The team “came together as one unit, and were able to put together a compelling plaintiff and defense case, and constantly adjusted as the season progressed.”

It's not just a single-season effort, but one of years in the making. “For some, this journey began in sixth grade, and for everyone, it was a season that they voluntarily began in August. They never turned down an optional practice, worked hard at team practices, and regularly worked on their own. To see their sacrifice for all those months and years be rewarded with a state championship is one of the highest honors of my career,” Vogt said.

Madison West teacher-coach Tony Zappia also recognizes the value of mock trial for the students. In his ninth year as a volunteer coach, Zappia said that the students learn stage presence, thinking on the spot, and improvisation. Mock trial, he said, will be an important part of their high school memories. “It’s a wonderful gift for these kids,” he said.

And it’s not just the students who benefit, the coaches do as well – and that’s something he will miss as he is retiring after this school year. “Working with these kids is contagious,” he said. “They’re just wonderful people to work with.”

Lucia Brewer gives the opening arguments for the defense during the finals round on March 8, 2026.​

Salem and David

Salem Eacret and David Van Hallgren, seniors at River Valley High School, have just completed their fourth year as members of their high school mock trial team.

Salem started in middle school. “One of my favorite teachers was the coach,” he said.

David had no idea at first what mock trial was. Once he joined the team, “I really loved it. I loved the coaches and the people. I like all the different aspects of it – the storytelling, the rules, the intricacies of it.” Now, he’s pondering law as a profession.

This year, David played the role of a witness. The most important skill he’s learned: improvisation. “You can have it all memorized on direct, but in cross-examination, anything gets thrown at you. I’ve really had to adapt to a lot of different situations. It’s really nerve-wracking.”

Salem was an attorney this year. “I’m going to be honest. It’s fun to argue with people. It’s fun to get an objection in and have it sustained.” This year’s case – about an ostrich gone amok – was both challenging and whimsical. “I liked the entire story of it.”

And for both, the best part: “Interacting with people from different schools. You get to meet people from all over the state who have different experiences, and you learn a ton,” said David.

Salem Eacret (left) and David Van Hallgren (right), both seniors at River Valley High School, have participated in mock trial since their freshman year.

Spirit of Mock Trial: Waukesha South Mock Trial Team

Congratulations to the Waukesha South Mock Trial Team for winning the 2026 Spirit of Mock Trial Award! Their nominators noted that the team is prepared, respectful, and gracious in welcoming opposing teams, and praised their coaches, teacher-coach Cory Ross and attorney-coach Libby Mueller, for instilling respect for fair competition and for mentoring students with thoughtful feedback that helps competitors grow in confidence, advocacy skills, and character.

Motivated by Mock Trial

There’s no question that participating in high school mock trial in Iowa changed Ann Glavan’s life. She participated starting in middle school and throughout high school.

“Mock trial is the entire reason that I became a lawyer,” she said. “I just felt very confident and comfortable, and then that carried over into a career.”

In fact, she just got a job at a firm in Iowa where one of her high school coaches is a partner.

A Wisconsin lawyer based in Madison, she is paying it back as an attorney coach for Madison West High School – one of the two teams that participated in the state final rounds on March 8. “West has an enormous program. We have four teams and over 50 students,” she said.

Even if mock trial does not lead a student into law, it is still valuable for the life skills it gives them, Glavan said. “It gives you a place to feel confident and competent in high school, which can be a trying time as a teenager.”

From left: Lucia Brewer, Rageshri Barad, and Tess Pierce celebrate Brookfield Central's first-place finish in the state finals.

Courtroom Artist Winner

This year is the second year for the courtroom artist competition. Congratulations to Beyla Fritz of D.C. Everest High School! Winners are decided by popular vote by mock trial participants, including both students and coaches.

Mock Trial: Funded by the Wisconsin Law Foundation

The Wisconsin High School Mock Trial Tournament is a State Bar of Wisconsin program funded by the Wisconsin Law Foundation, the charitable arm of the State Bar.

The Wisconsin High School Mock Trial program is funded by a generous grant from the Wisconsin Law Foundation, the charitable arm of the State Bar of Wisconsin, supporting law-related education and public service programs statewide. Donations to the Wisconsin Law Foundation’s Mock Trial Fund can be made online at wisbar.org/wlfdonate.