DBHS Mock Trial Coaches LATITIA THOMAS and MARGARET KU share the news of our team’s adventure at Duke University in North Carolina the weekened of March 4, 2023.
“During a weekend of superlative Brahma accomplishments, dance, robotics, science Olympiad, choir and so much more, 10 members of the DBHS Mock Trial team were anxious to add to the list of accolades! These 10 students: Alexandra Chala (12), Julienne Uy (12), Vishnu Sriram (12), Jeremiah Jung (11), Gloria Nien (11), Chloe Zhuo (10), Lizzy Kim (12), Hilary Hui (11), Ashley Cha (11), Mia Artale (10) competed in a national Moot Court competition held at Duke Univ, in NC.
It was a grueling first day of competition on Saturday, March 4, with students competing in 3 rounds, each about 90 minutes long. Scores from Saturday were used to compile a list of top 10 speakers: Alexandra Chala was one of the top 10. Also based on the first day scores, only 16 teams (students competed in teams of 2, so DBHS had 5 teams) advanced to Sunday rounds. Three of the 5 DBHS teams advanced to Sunday. After the top 16, two DBHS teams advanced to the quarterfinals, then one DBHS team: Jeremiah Jung and Vishnu Sriram advanced to the semifinals, losing in a close, close scoring round to the team that ended up in first place.
All students that made it to the top 8: Alexandra Chala, Julienne UY, Jeremiah Jung and Vishnu Sriram qualify for “Nationals” at the end of May.
The students showed such great sportsmanship, skill, knowledge, presence, and oral prowess. More than half the competitors at the event had just finished competing in a virtual version of the same competition just two weeks prior so we were at a great disadvantage but that was never apparent. These 10 Brahmas made us coaches so proud. Several coaches from other teams commended me on what wonderful individuals our students are, not just great competitors.
In addition to the competition, the students got a little taste of southern life: riding a John Deere tractor (Mia Artale skillfully demonstrating), touring a Civil War battle site with an exceptional tour guide (tour guide and tractor owner my local brother, retired First Sergeant Eric Russell), spent time at the Duke gardens and hiked a trail that had a fallen tree carved with a chain saw.”