Blue Devil Courtroom Team Captures Third Place in State

The Huntington mock trial team wrapped up the season with a third place finish at the state finals in Albany. The Blue Devils were impressive while going toe-to-toe with the best in New York.

Huntington had earlier won the county title this spring after completing the regular season undefeated. Blue Devil legal advisor Xavier Palacios and faculty advisors Suzi Biagi and Brian Outsen were on hand in Albany to guide the team through a series of tough matches.

Huntington’s state finals team consisted of Isabella Carreccia-Johnson, Lindsay Depeine, David Dje Bi, Nina Fascilla, Will Fallon, Andrew Ganley, Vincenza Garofalo, Erin Hanlon, Angie Hernandez-Ramos, Elizabeth James, Hillel Linker, Natalie Parrott and Dawin Preval.

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to have participated in states this year,” Ms. Fascilla said. “Performing in a federal courthouse as a high school student is truly a once in a lifetime experience that I’ll forever remember. The most difficult part was definitely competing in back to back trials as an attorney that represents both sides, but it has really prepared me for the future. Mock trial has helped me find my place and the skills that I’ve picked up so far are invaluable. I am incredibly proud of the whole team for placing third. We can only go up from here.”

This marks the 41st year of the New York State Bar Association’s mock trial program. The 2023 season featured 400 teams and 4,000 students working with 1,000 volunteer legal coaches and faculty advisors. Trials were presided over by more than 100 volunteer judges.

“It was as though we were picking up right from where we left off last year in our first competition against Hunter,” Ms. Hernandez-Ramos said. “Their team was absolutely phenomenal and their closing was a treat to experience. I’m so incredibly proud of my team for taking all of the nervousness that comes with facing off against a team like Hunter’s and really allowing it to transform us into strong individuals that really rose to our proclaimed title of challengers against that team particularly. We put our all into those competitions and I am so proud of my team who will continue to move forwards well-fortified by this experience.”

Huntington engaged in intensive preparations over the past several weeks to get ready to meet New York’s top courtroom teams.

“The state finals was truly a once in a lifetime experience; one that I feel incredibly blessed to have been a part of,” Ms. Carreccia-Johnson. “It was both exciting and nerve wracking to face such talented teams and I feel very proud of our overall performance. As both an attorney and witness, I was faced with techniques and questions I had never heard before, which required an immense amount of focus and resilience. Overall, I am thrilled to be third in the state out of hundreds teams. I am eternally grateful to my amazing team, Ms. Biagi, Mr. Outsen and of course, Mr. Palacios, for all their support.”

The Huntington program is highly regarded across Long Island and the state. This year’s team has many underclassmen in its ranks and appears to have set the stage for many more years of success.

“State finals was an amazing journey that we were readily anticipating,” Ms. James said. “I’m extremely happy that we were able to participate at such a high level in this beautiful program. We gave it our all and left everything in the courtroom and I’m so proud of our team for how far we have come. I want to specifically thank our coaches Mrs. Biagi, Mr. Outsen and Mr. Palacios who poured out their time, love and patience. Third in the state and No. 1 public school is unbelievable.”

The Blue Devil legal wizards have been celebrated across Huntington UFSD and the community at large. “I am very thankful for all of the support that we’ve received and for the help and support of our advisors and coaches,” Ms. Hernandez-Ramos said. “Thank you very much Ms. Biagi, Mr. Outsen, Mr. Palacios.”

The entire state finals team left the competition feeling great about the experience.

• “Being able to have the opportunity to travel to Albany and compete in the state competition was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Ms Garofalo said. “I’m looking forward to next year and the improvement that we will have.”

• “Having the opportunity to work and compete this year was amazing and it was great to be surrounded by such brilliant minds,” Ms. Hanlon said.

• “I have been so lucky getting to know everyone on his team,” Ms. Parrott said. “Everyone has something to contribute and everyone makes this group of ours feel complete. I will miss the seniors who have contributed but I look forward to seeing how we all work together next year.”

• “Honestly, winning a trophy isn’t that important to me, it’s the joy and the memories I gained and the new people I met that made this a ‘W,’” Ms. Depeine said. “Sometimes the trophy isn’t the prize, but connections you make along the way are.”

• “I enjoyed every moment with this team,” Mr. Preval said. “Everyone contributed in some type of way. The friendships and the moments we shared will always be with me. This year was amazing.”

• “I enjoyed spending time with the team,” Mr. Dje Bi said. “Knowing that we were this close to winning it all makes me more eager to be back here next year. It was a great experience thanks to all our supervisors. I will never forget it.”

• “This was a great new experience,” Mr. Linker said. “It was a great first year. I’m so glad I did this and I wish I did it for my freshman and sophomore years,” Mr. Linker said.

• “It was swell.” Mr. Fallon said.

• “Twenty years ago to the date I was in the same seats as this group of kids fighting for a state championship and I can honestly say experiencing this now as a coach with this team is more rewarding than winning as a student,” said Mr. Outsen, who participated on William Floyd’s team during his high school years. “Their effort, civility, poise and determination was unmatched up in Albany and this experience will only make us an even more dangerous team for years to come. Shout out to Suzi Biagi, Xavier Palacios and all of our kids for a wonderful first year as coach.”

• “We really have become a little family and we could not be prouder of these wonderful kids if we tried,” Ms. Biagi said. “I’ve been doing this for seven years and it never gets old. The level of sheer joy we witnessed with every contest makes will make your heart sing.”