Izzy Shoemaker ‘26
The 2024-2025 mock trial season is well underway for the team at Wyoming Seminary. After graduating all 12 of the varsity team members from last year, this year’s team stepped up and filled in. Twelve new team members filled in, four of whom had never done mock trial before. Additionally, four other members had never competed before this season. In addition to new team members, the team also welcomed Lieutenant District Attorney Tony Ross as a coach alongside returning coach, Dr. Froehlich. Ella Magida ‘26, Nick Delayo ‘25, Isis Gonzalez ‘25, and Kavin Patel ‘25 were named as captains for this season.
The season began with two invitational tournaments in Philadelphia, LaSalle Blue and Gold and UPenn Benjamin Franklin Invitational. The Blue and Gold and Ben Franklin Invitational are two of the highest level competitions in the state. At the Blue and Gold, Wyoming Seminary went 1-2-1. The next weekend, at the Benjamin Franklin invitational, the Knights went 1-1, as they were unable to compete the next day as a result of weather events in the Philadelphia area. Following the two invitationals, the team had a few days to refine their case materials before moving on to preliminary rounds of district mock trial at the Luzerne County Courthouse.
Sem has done remarkably well in districts thus far. In their first trial, the varsity defense team defeated Marian High School in a unanimous decision by all five judges. Kavin Patel ‘25 and Mirabaai Reitsma ‘26 were awarded best advocate and best witness respectively. Patel said, “It’s great to get results like this in districts. We had big shoes to fill from last year’s team, and I think we are in a good position to have a shot at back to back district titles.”
A week later, the varsity prosecution team was back in the courthouse against Pittson area. The prosecution swept the judges in a unanimous 5-0 decision once again. Josie Carpenter ‘26, awarded best witness at the trial said, “I think everyone is feeling really good moving into the next rounds of districts. The team will continue competing in high level district competition through the rest of February, culminating with the district championship. If the team comes out victorious, they will continue on in the regional championship, a title last one by the Sem 2023-2024 varsity team.