60-plus students, 6 schools vie for mock trial trophy

Six teams from private and public high schools in the Commonwealth gave exceptional performances in the preliminary and semifinal rounds of the annual mock trial competition yesterday at the Guma Hustisia.

Heather Kennedy, the CNMI Bar Association’s event coordinator, said that more than 60 high school students joined the competition this year. As of 5pm yesterday, teams were still at it, with the awarding rites scheduled to follow the final round.

Yesterday’s competition was opened by Associate Justice John A. Manglona, Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan, and Kennedy, who signaled the competition proper at 8:30am.

The mock trial competition is an annual contest organized by the Bar Association in collaboration with the Public School System. Kennedy said that yesterday’s success is shared with association members and the Judiciary who stepped up and served as judges and jurors for the competition.

Members of defending champion Marianas Baptist Academy were all dressed to the nines, hopeful of a repeat victory. Their principal, Ramir Trinidad, said that the group has been preparing for the competition since the start of the school year. If lucky, this will be the school’s third time to win the championship since 2009.

“I have seen their commitment, their sacrifices, and all their hard work since day one. I am confident and very proud of the MBA team,” said Trinidad.

MBA’s title will be defended by Kenny Sung Eun An, Jodel Fernandez, Se Young Hwang, Dong Hee Im, Young Eun Lee, Manatsu Omori, Eunice Park, and Han Sol Yu. Their coaches include teacher Paul Murphy and attorneys Jennifer Dockter and Adam Hardwicke.

In a visit to the various courtrooms yesterday, the teams of Mount Carmel School and Marianas High School were facing off on Court 202 before presiding judge Timothy Bellas. On the bench sides were each team’s members and supporters led by Galvin Deleon Guerrero for MCS and Dr. Chas Algaier for the other group.

Members of the MCS team include Victor Manuel Cabrera, Lourence Jason Camacho, Ann Gelika Elenzano, Andrea Grace Manese, Ji Min Ryu, Anastasia Rose Schweiger, and Dominic Travilla. Their coaches include Deleon Guerrero, Lourdes Mendiola, and attorney Joseph Taijeron Jr.

The MHS team is composed of Antonio Cabrera, Rachel Cabrera, Aurora David, Deveney Dela Cruz, Maria Dizon, Mike Johnson, Matthew Lopez, Jimon Necesito, Michelle Ngirbabul, and Vinni Orsini. They are guided by coaches Algaier, Donald Cohen, and attorney Russell Lorfing.

Also doing their best in the preliminary rounds yesterday were Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Jr. and Sr. High School’s Maricel Atalig, Randee-jo Barcinas, Zahra Frazier, Jose Ignacio Lizama, Audrey Manglona, Mona Sierra Manglona, Maisie Mesngon, Austin Delos Santos, and Atta Suzuki. Their coaches are Donald Manglona, Tonica Barcinas and attorneys Daniel Bednarski and Quynchi Nguyen.

The team of Saipan Southern High School include Katrina Cruz, Anna Rose Deleon Guerrero, Emily Dewitt, Lallane Guiao, Yong Jeong Kim, Hye Young Oh, Katrina Punzalan, Tiara Villagomez, and Yoshihiro Yagi. Coaches are Andrew Golden and Cheryl Indalecio.

The Tinian Jr. & Sr. High School team is composed of Seoyeon Ahn, Alonica Anore, Leilani Conanan, Shitong Cheng, Ervin Cruz, Chloe Hosfchneider, Kyle Sanbergen, and Yun Ha Seo. Their coaches are John Suffin and attorney Lucy Blanco-Maratita.

This year’s champion will fly to Albuquerque, New Mexico in May to represent the CNMI in the 29th Annual National High School Mock Trial Competition.