On Saturday, March 12, the Central Carolina Homeschoolers earned the right to represent North Carolina at Nationals in Boise, Idaho on May 12 – 14, defeating the 2015 champions, Gaston Christian School. Both teams are perennial powerhouses, and together they have won every state title since 2012. Their success was even more noteworthy because of the strength of the regional champions this year – all judges agreed that the 2016 competition was the most balanced and difficult field yet!
Winning their third championship in four years is a remarkable achievement. And while several of the members of the Central Carolina Homeschoolers team are seniors, others were new to mock trial this year. Freshman David Bainbridge proclaimed, “Mock Trial has definitely been the highlight of my year. It has been challenging, stressful, and most of all, just fun.” Senior Sarah Boyette, who earned recognition as Outstanding Attorney during the championship round, reminisced, “I am thankful for my mock trial experience over the last four years. It’s a dream come true to end my high school mock trial career in Boise, Idaho, representing North Carolina at nationals.”
The students could not have enjoyed such success without the investment of coaches and parents. Attorney advisor Jeannie Blake remarked, “I am so proud of the hard work that the CCH mock trial team put into preparing for this year’s state competition. Their dedication to learning the law and to each other is inspiring.” And long-term teacher coach Alice Boyette summarized the team’s experience by noting “We had some hard fought rounds against great teams at both the regional and state levels. I think the level of competition has definitely risen in NC over the five years I’ve been involved in mock trial due to many dedicated coaches, attorneys, and team members as well as the mock trial educational programs offered by CCCE. We are honored to represent NC in Boise at the National High School Mock Trial Championship.”
We look forward to supporting our state champs at Nationals in May! Congratulations and best wishes to all Central Carolina Homeschoolers Veritas team members and coaches:
Head coach: Alice Boyette
Attorney advisors: Darren Allen and Jeannie Blake
Assistant and alumni coaches: Maria Bailey and Hannah Presnell
Students: David Bainbridge, Sydney Bartholow, Sarah Boyette, Brianna Kelly, Caitlin Kelly, Emily Polson, Aaron Presnell, Joshua Way; alternate: Abigail Way.
State Championship Results:
State Champion: Central Carolina Homeschoolers Veritas
Runner-up: Gaston Christian School Red
Additional participating Regional Champions:
East Forsyth High School
Gray Stone Day School Garnet
HARC
JH Rose High School Blue
JH Rose High School Green
Wake Classical
Individual Awards
Round 1 Best Witness
Maria Kanawati
Emily Polson
Rachel Rice
Emily Robinson
Round 1 Best Attorney
Sarah Boyette
Ashley Layne
Kinsley Painter
Callen Toscano
Round 2 Best Witness
Cassie Bollinger
Bryan Cooper
Madux Price
Elizabeth Williams
Round 2 Best Attorney
Adam Dietrich
Maria Kanawati
Ashley Layne
Aaron Presnell
Championship Round
Best Witness: Madux Price
Best Attorney: Sarah Boyette
