After taking second place at State last year, Mock Trial will again compete against the top eight of 40 teams in the state.

Team members are Alexandria Brennan, Ashley Holst, Melissa Maddox, Dan Massey, Katie Mullersman and Melissa Smith, seniors; Corinne Char, Julie McGinnity and Brandon Metcalf, juniors; and Max Fei, sophomore.

At the St. Louis Courthouse in Clayton, high schoolers compete in a trial that thrusts students into all the intensity of a real courtroom.

The competition centers on a fictional court case, Harrison v. Longstreet Monitor, LLC, that deals with a local newspaper sued by Judge Hunter Harrison for defamation of character.

Team members each play the role of a participant in the trial and argue their case against local teams. A trial is won by receiving ballots from judges who score performances.

Going into the regional competition, Mock Trial had a perfect record (9-0).

"I’m really proud of the team. The fact that they went undefeated said a lot. They had really hard competition and they rose to the challenge every time," said Susan Hill, Mock Trial Sponsor.

At regionals, Mock Trial first faced Ladue High School and continued their streak by winning all three ballots.

Though they lost 0-3 to MICDS in their second match-up at regionals, Mock Trial’s points ensured an advance to State.

State competition will be held March 28-30, over Spring Break.

Mock Trial now prepares for trials with Cor Jesu and Thomas Jefferson at State.