The San Marcos Mock Trial team dedicated their entire Saturday at the courthouse, defeating Carpinteria, the Dos Pueblos B team, Lompoc, and Santa Barbara high school. Their win that day cemented their status as County of Santa Barbara Mock Trial semi-finalists, and placing them in first.
Under the guidance of U.S. History Luke Ohrn and a skilled team of attorneys and coaches, the 27 San Marcos students, who have diligently practiced since September, showcased their talent in the courtroom, earning honors for their performance on both prosecution and defense. Seniors Avital Abramov, Hannah Henderson, and junior Ilan Abramov spearheaded the defense, while senior Declan Braverman and juniors Sophia Llewellyn and Luana Acosta led the prosecution.
“We’ve been working on this case since the beginning of the school year, and it’s really amazing to see how everything comes together,” said junior prosecution lawyer Sophia Llewellyn. “In prosecution, the team meshes together well. It’s also very honorable to have won an Honorable Mention for my first year as a lawyer.”
As the competition concluded, an awards ceremony celebrated the achievements of students from all participating schools in the county. Junior Ilan Abramov won Best Defense Attorney, and junior Maxine Nocker won Best Witness Award. Seniors Avital Abromav and Sophia Llewellyn received honorable mention for their attorney’s roles.
After beating these four teams, San Marcos is currently placed first in the county. Semi-finals and Finals will be held this coming Saturday, March 2, at the Santa Barbara Courthouse. The winning team of finals will advance to the California Mock Trial Competition in Los Angeles, which will take place from March 18 to March 20.
