The Perry High School Mock Trial team competed in the Iowa State Bar Association Central District Mock Trial contest on March 1 at the Veterans Auditorium Center.
The PHS Mock Trial team is led by coaches Darcy Spellman, Mark Powell, Eddie Diaz and Tom Lipovac.
Team members include attorneys Alicia Calderon, Hannah Sackett, Sarah Sweet, Gabe Ridnour, Giselle Robles, Cale Cooklin and Fatima Gonzalez and witnesses and alternates Devon Archer, Sarah Sweet, Mariah McNamara, Gabe Ridnour, Jocelyn Fuentes, Jason Zepeda, Mario Cruz and Alexa Zarate.
Perry High School was paired in district competition with Ankeny and Valley Southwoods, with attorney Hannah Sackett and witnesses Sarah Sweet and Jocelyn Fuentes receiving Outstanding ratings by the trial judges.
Mock trial competition introduces students to the U.S. legal system by means of a challenging academic competition. The program offers students an opportunity for personal growth and achievement, emphasizing the importance of research, presentation, and teamwork.
Iowa District Court judges and lawyers from across the state also participate in the competition, with the links between the schools and the legal profession showing students the potential for partnerships in the community.
More than 1,600 high school students from across Iowa participate in the annual competition, including students from social studies courses, TAG programs, at-risk classes and extracurricular mock trial clubs.
