PC mock trial advances to state for the first time in 13 years

The Perkins County High School Black mock trial team won the Region 3 tournament on Friday, Nov. 19, qualifying for the state championship competition. The state competition will be held virtually via Zoom.

In the first trial of the day, the PC Black team was assigned the prosecution side of the case of the State of Nebraska v Jules Chapelle. Jules Chapelle has been charged with manslaughter in the death of his/her sister, Dickie Chapelle.

The Black team competed against the McCook White team representing Jules Chapelle.

On the Black team for this trial were attorneys Gavin Smith, Caitlyn Meyer and Summer Postlewait with witnesses Ashton Meyer as Officer Dallas Perkins, Selah Richter-Martinez as Nik Quarkian and Meghan Bishop as Dr. Willa Hunter.

Postlewait handled the pre-trial matters, Caitlyn delivered the opening, and Smith gave the closing. The Black team defeated McCook White to move on to the second round.

In the day’s second trial, the PC Red team performed as the prosecution side against Southern Valley Black. Representing the PC Red team were attorneys Ella Uehling, Emmalee Parsley Stevens  and Ryder Potts. The witnesses were Brecken Uehling as Officer Perkins, Jordan Mireles as Nik Quarkian and Emily Cornelius as Dr. Hunter.

The Red team did an outstanding job, winning and moving on to meet the PC Black team in the second round.

In the second round, the Red team again had the prosecution side. The Black team was assigned to be the defense.

On defense, the Black team attorneys were Richter-Martinez doing the opening, Caitlyn handling pre-trial and Smith doing the closing. When on defense, the Black team’s witnesses are Daniel Hampton as Al Hayes, Postlewait as EMT D. Leigh Roth, and Cait Dolezal as the defendant, Jules Chapelle.

This trial matching the two Perkins County teams became an outstanding and very close competition. All of the attorneys handled questioning smoothly and the witnesses created believable characters.

In what must have been a very close competition, the Black team won, ending the Red team’s season. Since the Red team represented the prosecution in both trials, the three witnesses on defense did not perform Friday, but still deserve recognition for their performances in earlier trials.

They are Emma Klahn as Jules Chapelle, Brock Tines as Al Hayes and Maylynn Walker as D. Leigh Roth.

In the regional finals, PC Black was again on defense, opposing the McCook Red team, a team composed entirely of seniors.

It was again a very close competition with many outstanding performances. The Black team prevailed, setting off a celebration by team members and coaches.

This was the first Perkins County mock trial team to qualify for state since 2008. The dates for state competition have not yet been released, but will likely be during the second week in December.

The Perkins County mock trial coaches Diana Tate and Don Harris want to thank the student timekeepers Mason McGreer and Colson Uehling, the attorneys whose assistance was invaluable, Tawna Holmstedt, Rock Roberts, Tanya McArtor and Amara Meyer Block, bus drivers Mark Bottom and Jeff Marquardt, Principal Ben Jones and Activities Director Jeremy Struckman.

All have contributed to the success of the mock trial teams this year.