CNMI’s Mock Trial Knights hold their own at Nationals

Mount Carmel School’s Mock Trial Knights held their own in competitive rounds at the 2016 National High School Mock Trial Competition held last week in Boise, Idaho. Representing the CNMI, the Knights held their ground against some of the nation’s best teams, including previous national champions.

In between scrimmages and competitive rounds, the Knights faced off with three teams that placed in the Top 10 of this year’s competition: New Mexico (4th place and 2012 and 2013 national champions), North Carolina (8th place), and Washington (10th place and 2014 national champions). The team also competed against top teams from Maine, California, and Wisconsin.

Advancement and round pairings in the national competition are based on power-matching after Round 1. This means that teams with equivalent win/loss records, ballots, and points face off against each other in their respective power-matched brackets. The fact that Team CNMI went up against so many top teams is a direct reflection of the rigor and strength of Team NMI throughout the competition.

Teacher coach and school president Galvin Deleon Guerrero was very proud of the team. “Despite all the challenges the team faced, they stood toe-to-toe against some very tough opponents and proved that they have what it takes to compete at the national level.”

Success despite setback
The team achieved this level of competition despite losing one of its key members the day before the team left the CNMI to the competition. Due to an illness, Jaqueline “Jackie” Doctor, who was set to play dual witness roles, had to be sent on emergency medical referral. Rallying behind their sick teammate, the team stepped up by fielding two substitute players for two different witness roles.

One such player was Justin Ocampo who, as only a freshman straight off the bench, scored the highest points, on average, for the team. On a 10-point scale, Ocampo’s average score throughout the competition was 8.2, and he even scored a perfect 10 on one ballot.

Although he scored well, Ocampo was quick to point out how hard it was. As he said, “Most people had a month to prepare, while I had only a week to do that. So, a part of me was scared, but another part of me was determined to do my best for Jackie.”

Appreciation
While in Boise, the team was welcomed warmly by the large CNMI community living in the area. Attorney Vince Torres and his family hosted the team on two separate occasions, while the families of Juan Santiago Tenorio and Joe and Cathy Salas led an effort to prepare snacks and refreshments for the team during the competition.

“We are extremely grateful for the love and support that our brothers and sisters from the NMI showed us while we were there,” said Deleon Guerrero. He added, “They certainly made us feel at home while away from home.”

The team also expressed its appreciation to the companies and organizations that supported them in its preparations for the national competition: DFS T Galleria, J. C. Tenorio Enterprises, Lucky R Corporation, Motion Automotive, SJ Corporation, WIRES, the CNMI Legislature, CNMI Mock Trial Coordinator Sheila Trianni, the Attorney General’s Office, the CNMI Judiciary, and the CNMI Public School System and Board of Education.

The Mock Trial Knights earned the right to represent the CNMI at the national competition by winning the local CNMI Mock Trial Competition held earlier this year. The team was coached by attorney coach Joseph Leon Guerrero Taijeron Jr. and teacher coaches Kevin Bautista and Deleon Guerrero. The team included Angelo Gabriel Cardenas Manese, Arron Christopher Cushing, Jaqueline Bernardo Doctor, Jeff Matthew Melchor, Jose Antonio Pan Castro, Justin Gerald Pensader Ocampo, Kimvherly Reyes Dela Cruz, Kiyoun Kim, Lance Vincent Quitugua Deleon Guerrero, Michael Roy Estacio Ortizo, Monica Aira Baysa Usi, Sunghun Ryu, You Jin Jun, and Zeno Camacho Deleon Guerrero, Jr.

Started in 1984, the National High School Mock Trial Competition aims to promote an understanding and appreciation of the American judicial system through academic competitions and other endeavors for students. (PR)