Closing Arguments: Experienced SHS Mock Trial Team Eyes State Title

As the rest of Shorewood High School lay dormant, a group of students bustle about, polishing their objections, and sorting through evidence and affidavits.

After three years of disappointments, the senior-heavy mock trial team at Shorewood High School hopes to bring home the big prize in 2012, as they prepare for a state semifinals competition on Sunday in Madison. Shorewood is a regular state participant and won in 1984 and 2007.

"It's a new year with new opportunities," said junior Micayla Lubka, who has been on the team for three years.

Shorewood garnered the most points in the regional round, earning the right to battle 13 other teams in Dane County Circuit Court.

The team will argue the case before three-person panels, comprised of volunteer attorneys and judges. Mock trial teams are tasked with a different case each year, and this year, the case centers on a property dispute between the O’Neill and McDougal families, who have been neighbors for years but are now disputing their property line.

Case materials supplied by the State Bar to the participating teams include a summons, complaint, exhibits, affidavits and other pertinent documents.

The students, in turn, have to address a series of issues as they develop their case, including who has been using the property, for what purpose and who the rightful owner is.

Shorewood will compete in four rounds on Sunday, swapping sides from the prosecution to the defense. The top two teams will advance to the finals on Monday and present a case in front of state Supreme Court justices in their chambers.

Senior Zan Song has competed at the state level two times and said it's really stressful, but the team becomes a close family. Despite their past results, Song is optimistic about the team's chances.

"We always go in thinking we'll win, we always come up short," she said. "We tend to underestimate the competition, but I think we have a good chance this year.

"...This is the first year I can remember everyone thinking, we have to go to nationals."

Senior Aaryn Kealty said this year's team has a edge on other top teams as it is stacked with seniors and experience.

"All of our enemies, so to speak, have had to rebuild this year, and we haven't had to rebuild at all, because we still have this powerhouse team from last year," Kealty said.

While other high schools struggle to recruit students into mock trial, team coach, SHS social studies teacher and former lawyer Debra Schwinn said Shorewood is a bit unique in the fact that students are excited and flock to join.

“It is sort of like Olympics of the mind,” Schwinn said. “They get to be the best nerds; they get to be the best smarty-pants kids."

And, when they get on the team, most tend to become very involved and dedicated. Schwinn said the team started out in October, meeting roughly once a week, but now meets three times a week for hours, often until 9 p.m.

“That’s their practice schedule, they set it up,” Schwinn said. “I think we practice more often than anyone else; I think we practice harder than anyone else. They are just very fired up and dedicated.

“They are running on auto-pilot. I’m just glad to be along for the ride.”

Song said she has wanted to become a lawyer since an early age and it made sense to join the team, while Kealty said her mother forced her to join, but she's glad she did.

"It's a really good outlet for public speaking," she said. "Since mock trial, I don't get nervous talking in front of a large group of people."

For many of the varsity team members — all of whom are girls — this will be their last chance to advance to nationals, which will be held in Albuquerque, NM in May.

“We’ve always had a good solid program, but this year, in particular, they are very strong,” Schwinn said. "There is nothing stopping these girls."