The Huntington High School mock trial team is in full stride as it preps for its first competition in about three weeks.
Team members have been studying this year’s statewide case from every angle as they simultaneously seek to master roles as prosecution and defense attorneys as well as witnesses.
Weekly matches will commence on February 2 and run through March 2. The top 16 teams will vie in weekly playoff rounds. The county championship trial is scheduled for March 30. The state finals will be held in Albany on May 22-24.
The art of posing and answering questions, responding quickly under pressure and developing crisp arguments that pack a wallop are being covered and recovered during practice sessions that go late into the night.
Attorney Xavier Palacios is back at the Blue Devils’ volunteer legal advisor, giving the team an enormous amount of his time as it seeks to win county and state titles. Suzie Biagi and Gregory Dieterich are the team’s faculty advisors.
Huntington will face Southampton, Bay Shore, Brentwood and Babylon in regular season trials.
“Recently we’ve been preparing all of our material for our upcoming competition,” senior Emily Geller said. “Everyone has been assigned their roles so now it is all about rehearsing and memorizing! I can’t wait till we start competing again.”
The team recently met on a Sunday afternoon in its courtroom in the School Heritage Museum at Huntington High School for an extended practice session.
“Mock trial is doing really good despite everything going on,” senior Ashley Genao said. “We have been working very hard these past months to be ready and prepared for our first competition coming up in February. I am especially excited because I am able to do my senior year of mock trial in person and I can’t wait to go very far with the team. I am hoping this year we take home that championship!”