Demons ninth at mock trial state competition

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. Glenwood Springs High School’s mock trial team didn’t manage to regain its winning status at the state competition last weekend.GSHS placed ninth out of twenty teams. They had hoped for a win at state again, as last year they were dethroned after a five-year winning streak. But the team did win its first three rounds against Doherty High School of Colorado Springs, Kent and Regis.

”It’s a young team,” Wes Burke said. “There are four sophomores on it, so they did very well.”

Burke is a GSHS teacher involved with the mock trial program.The team’s members are Anna Wiltse, Anna Triebel, Abbey Barnes, Katie Waller, Brendan Cochran, Anders Rosen, Drew Walters and Kerry Rippy.

Evergreen High School placed first. The team will go on to represent Colorado at the national mock trial championship starting May 10 in Dallas, Texas. George Washington High School of Denver was the other team to make it to the championship round at state, eventually losing to Evergreen.

The goals of the mock trial program include the promotion, understanding and appreciation of the American judicial system and building basic life skills such as critical thinking, public speaking, reading, reasoning, team collaboration and persuasive argument.

Burke said much of the credit for the team’s success goes to the tremendous support of the parents and the attorney coaches who provided legal advice, transportation, food and drink and many weekends for the students.

Burke said the following people deserve special thanks: Vic Zerbi, Ruben Hernandez, Matt Kaufman, Dennis Walters, Charlie Willman, David Hallford, James Fosnaught, Amanda Maurer, Paul Metzger, Susan Snyder, Libby Bohanon, Cyni Fleming and Kelly Cave.