- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
Middletown High wins annual Mock Trial competition
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Middletown High School once again took top honors at this year’s Mock Trial event.
The fifth annual competition took place on Monday in the Lake County Superior Court in Lakeport.
Middletown High and Upper Lake High squared off in the competition, which had the two teams arguing the fictional court case “People v. Awbrey,” which involves human trafficking and false imprisonment.
Judge Stephen Hedstrom presided over the first round, while Judge Richard Martin presided over round two.
Melissa Perry, the information systems manager for the Lake County Superior Court, once again coordinated the entire event from the court side, arranging and training judges and attorneys as well as the facility. Tammy Serpa was the event organizer from the Lake County Office of Education.
Following the competition, awards were given out to winning students. Outstanding awards went to:
• Outstanding Defense Attorney: Gary Pickrell IV, Middletown High.
• Outstanding Defense Witness: Jared Thornberry, Upper Lake High.
• Outstanding Clerk/Bailiff: Lyndsay Wade, Upper Lake High.
• Outstanding Prosecution Attorney: Abigail Elder, Middletown High.
• Outstanding Artist: Rhianna Eby, Upper Lake High.
Middletown High’s team included Jillian Anderson, Abigail Elder, Donald Elder, Aiden Isaia, Emily Gallagher, Moyra Horrell, Journey Nystrom, Gary Pickrell IV, Kyle Pryor-Landman, Jacquelyn Pyzer, Natalie Rodriguez, Audrey Showen, Jack Shrive, Summer Solis, Megan Talbert, Jon Thomas, Mylie Turney and Jessica Zell. Kevin Palotti was the team’s coach, with Jon Hopkins, Lake County’s former district attorney, the attorney coach.
Upper Lake High’s team included Laisha Altamirano, Angelica Ayala, Dante Bassignani, Rhianna Eby, Chris Fecht, Hunter Ford, Hasmine Haro, Austin Hill, Lantana Kimbler, Benat Love, Amanda Maxwell, Eduardo Mendoza, Jasmine Myers, Cheyanne Obedoza, Valeria Robles, Alana Sanchez, Jasmine Serafin, Sergio Serafin, Emily Stith, Jared Thornberry, Jasmin Velasco, Lyndsay Wade and Kaila Willard. Alex Stabiner was the coach and Judy Conard the attorney coach.
Middletown High will now travel to the state Mock Trial competition in Riverside March 24 to 26.