The St. Mary's Ryken High School Mock Trial Team (From left): Ryan Kelley, Chelsea Lollar, Attorney Coach Samuel C.P. Baldwin, Jr., Jose Ablen, Courtney Bucci, John Houser, Alicia Snellings, Meghan Herring, Elohe Dereje, and Kaitlyn Skeens. (Submitted photo)
LEONARDTOWN, Md. (March 28, 2010)—St. Mary's Ryken High School Mock Trial team competed in the championship match of the Circuit 7 Mock Trial competition in the ceremonial court room of the Circuit Court in Upper Marlboro on Tuesday evening, March 23. Ryken's team met the Mock Trial team from Dr. Henry Wise, Jr. High School of Prince Georges County. After approximately two hours of criminal litigation before a three judge panel of the Honorable Thurman H. Rhodes, the Honorable Tiffany H. Anderson, and the Honorable E. Gregory Wells, Ryken was determined to have won the match by a single point.
Thirty five High School teams entered the competition several months ago across Circuit 7—an area that is comprised of Prince Georges, Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary's County.
This is the third year in a row in which St. Mary's Ryken's Mock Trial team has won the regional championship. Over those three years, Ryken's Mock Trial team has a regional record of 23 wins against a single loss.
The Mock Trial team is comprised of Ryan Kelley, Chelsea Lollar, Attorney Coach Samuel C.P. Baldwin, Jr., Jose Ablen, Courtney Bucci, John Houser, Alicia Snellings, Meghan Herring, Elohe Dereje, and Kaitlyn Skeens.
The teacher coach for the team is Leeanne Carr.
Over the eight individual trials that lead up to the championship match, Jose Ablen was recognized as the "Best Overall Witness" in the competition out of approximately 180 witnesses; John Houser was recognized as the "Best Overall Attorney" out of approximately 150 attorneys.
The statewide High School Mock Trial competition, sponsored by the Maryland State Bar Association, is now down to the elite eight from an original group of several hundred schools. Ryken will compete against the Frederick County High School, St. John's Catholic Prep, in Towson on Tuesday, April 13th.