Huntington sent an extremely experienced and talented team of attorneys and witnesses into the courtroom this year and the Blue Devils finished the regular season with a perfect 4-0 mark. Everyone had high hopes for the playoffs, but the worldwide coronavirus outbreak dashed the hopes of team members.
Huntington will be losing several of its most talented team members to graduation in June, but the Blue Devils have many other star underclassmen set to return. It will be a strong core to build around as the team moves forward with confidence.
“Mock trial is going to be very different next year,” said senior John Panos, who has been one of the team’s brightest lights for four years running. “While we are losing to graduation many of our outstanding attorneys, I have so much confidence that our replacements will be as dedicated as we were. I am so excited to see how next year will be for them and I hope to see another county championship for Huntington.”
The welcome mat is always rolled out for new members to join the group. Every high school student is eligible to participate. Once classes resume, whether it be this spring or next fall, there will be announcements about an interest meeting in the School Heritage Museum room, which doubles as the Blue Devils’ home courtroom.
“I think we are going to be good next year,” sophomore Chris Maichin said. “We are going to have to really reorganize the team and have different people step into new positions because we are losing some of our best and most essential seniors. It is going to be very different and many changes are going to have to be made, but we will be able to adjust, make changes and once again compete as the strong Huntington mock trial team we are known as.”
Volunteer legal advisors Xavier Palacios and John LoTurco are expected to return as are faculty advisors Suzi Biagi and Gregory Dieterich.
“I feel mock trial team looks very strong for next year,” sophomore Ashley Genao said. “Yes we are losing many strong attorneys and witness from this year, but I believe we are going to do very well and hopefully go undefeated and become champions.”
The Blue Devils have fielded one of the strongest teams in Suffolk for many years. Huntington is well known for its exquisite preparation for each trial match and the long hours have paid handsome dividends in the courtroom.
“The team looks very promising,” senior Lia Shechter said. “We have many members who have been preparing to take on the reigns and are now ready to lead the team to success. I couldn’t be more confident in them and I’m excited to see how far they go.”
Messrs. Palacios and LoTurco devote an enormous number of hours with the team, sharpening the skills of prosecuting and defense attorneys and witnesses. The duo and the teenagers dissect the statewide case and develop strategies that has made them a very tough team to defeat in the courtroom.
“Next year we are losing a lot of members as most of our team was seniors,” sophomore Emily Geller said. “Along with that, our season was cut short due to COVID-19, so we were unable to compete in counties. These setbacks will give us more motivation and will drive us to work even harder to take a county and even a state title. Our team is strong and we have what it takes to win. I personally believe that next year will be our year to show everyone what Huntington mock trial is truly made of. Our sophomores are going to be stepping up as attorneys for next year, which will be a vital change for our team.”