Month: February 2022

Mock Trial Participates in Invitationals

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by Anna Chong ’24

Mock Trial Team (Photos Courtesy of Wyoming Seminary Communications Department)

The Wyoming Seminary Mock Trial Teams just ended its invitationals for this year. They were divided into A and B teams. Each team consisted of two sides, prosecution and defense. Each side is supposed to have three attorneys and three witnesses when competing. Mock Trial is a competition that simulates real trials. Students are given a case that remained the same throughout the whole season. The process of preparing for the case required lots of time and hard work together as a team. The audition took place in early November. From then, both teams started writing and memorizing materials for the case. On January 15 and 16, both teams participated in the Blue & Gold Invitational hosted by La Salle University. On January 22 and 23, both teams took part at the University of Pennsylvania’s Ben Franklin Invitational. Each team held a total of eight trials in these two Invitationals, each trial lasting for three hours. Even though both tournaments were held virtually, both A and B teams have performed exceptionally well. Emily Aikens ‘22 received outstanding attorney awards at both events, while Abby Chong ‘24 and Paige Kenewell ‘24 won outstanding witness awards at the Blue & Gold Invitational. 

This year, the Sem Mock Trial Teams had welcomed a lot of new faces joining the team and spending a memorable time together. Every participant learned much from this amazing experience. Both teams would not be able to have such extraordinary performances without the coach, Dr. Peter Froehlich. As the A team just finished their district competition in mid February, Dr. Peter Froehlich, is invited to talk about his takeaways from this unforgettable event. According to Dr. Peter Froehlich, “We had a very successful season. At the invitationals, both teams scored well against a deep field of talented competition and several of our members received individual awards. In the district competition, sem had a perfect record of 3-0 and were judged the winners by a 14-1 ballots.” He said he was very impressed with Benjamin Zhao ‘22 and Emily Aikens ‘22 ‘s leadership and how independent students were turning material into the prepared statements. Witnesses embodied characters very well and there was much thinking involved on the feet. He stated that watching the B team competing was especially impressive since many of them were participating for the first time. It is great looking at them getting better and better after each trial. 

Dance Company Gifts Nutcracker to Sem

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by Francesca Ramos ’23

Cast of the Nutcracker (Photo Courtesy of Wyoming Seminary Communications Department)

A vital part of Wyoming Seminary’s community lies in its Dance Company. Giving students opportunities to learn various dance styles and the community a wonderful sense of enjoyment, there has not been one person who isn’t impacted by the dance in some way. On Wednesday, December 15, Wyoming Seminary Dance Company and their dancers prepared and performed “Nutcracker Sweets” at 7:00 p.m. in the Kirby Center for Creative Arts (KCCA). Highlights from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker included Clara’s dance with the Nutcracker, the snow scene, and many other well-known dances from Act II. Seating was open to all who wished to attend with masking and COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines in mind. Presenting an outstanding performance, Wyoming Seminary is walking forward together, and Wyoming Seminary Dance Company gave the community a beautiful holiday gift through their hard work and dedication for their craft to this holiday tradition.

“With all we have been through these past months, performing the Nutcracker in December was a great experience for our Company.  It was wonderful to dance on the KCCA stage again with an audience there to share and enjoy our work.”  -Bernardine Vojtko, Artistic Director of Wyoming Seminary Dance Company

Old Club Gets New Life

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By Helena Prusak ’23 and Kim Nguyen ‘23

Chess Club meets in the Library every Monday (Photo Courtesy of Helena Prusak ’23)

Are you looking for a new club to join? One that gives you the opportunity to relax or even a place to channel your competitiveness? Well, chess club might be the perfect fit for you. You may have seen the eye-catching emails in your inbox from its club leader Thomas Figura ‘23 (Figgy). Whether it is through its witty subject lines or the bribing of chocolate.

While the club isn’t brand new, it has now been restarted by Figgy and Marshall Curtis ‘22. If you are concerned about your chess abilities, no worries! Figgy reassures that “all skill levels are welcome and we are willing to teach anyone.” It’s open to everyone so you can show off your chess skills and defeat the competition. Or you can learn how to play, whether you have been meaning to or not. Although, in the future, the leaders plan to compete with other schools.

Chess club is a welcoming, yet competitive, club where members can easily meet new people. Cade (Hayden) Butcher ‘24 joined the club because he thought it could be interesting, but learned to enjoy the game through participating in the club. He says, “It is just very interesting to see how the people in the club really want to learn how to play. Chess is an interesting, strategic board game that requires thinking ahead. One mistake could cost you the game during an intense moment. But, it makes you feel good when you are able to outplay someone, especially when you win.” He says that hopes that the club will continue to expand, and hopes “that more people join chess club and enjoy it similar to the way that I and others in chess club do.” 

The club meets every Monday after school in the library. There are chess mats set up and you are free to play. Join the others who enjoyed their time at chess club. CHECK it out ;)!