(Milford)– Mock Trial teams at Okoboji High School made history this season. The program, just in its 4th year, had three teams compete at Regionals on March 22 in Council Bluffs. The three teams went up against much larger school districts. Team 1 placed 1st and Team 2 placed 2nd. Only 32 teams claim a berth to State each year and Okoboji claimed two spots. State contest was in Des Moines. There is no class system in Mock Trial, so 2A goes against 3A and 4A schools. In their three rounds, both team 1 and 2 went against big schools, 4 of which were in the top 12 of the state last year.
For the 1st time in program history a team from Okoboji received a trophy and placed 10th in the State. It went to Team 2: Just A Boy.
In addition, judges can nominate students for awards as attorneys and witnesses. In order to be named All-State Outstanding, you must have both judges give you top score in the same round. Of 192 witnesses, only 14 earned this honor…and Okoboji earned THREE of those spots. They went to Seniors Lexi Duffy and Gwen Gehrke, and sophomore Maddison Lambert.
The program graduates 7 seniors. Lexi Duffy and Haley Harms promoted the program 7 years ago in middle school. These two young women, along with Carter Lambert and Sydni Powell formed part of the first high school team at Okoboji. Liam Knudtson has also participated several years, and Gwen Gehrke and Kayla Kollasch joined this year.
Mock Trial is coached by Troy Greiner and Blake Wendt.
TEAM 1 (Team Hank Hamilton): Nora Conover, Paul Conover, Connor Cunningham, Grace Downing, Lexi Duffy, Haley Harms, Liam Knudtson, Carter Lambert, and Chayse Packebush.
TEAM 2 (Team Just A Boy): Ellie Albertoni, Addison Cunningham, Gwen Gehrke, Sam Hoggard, Kayla Kollasch, Maddison Lambert, Mallory Loerts, Anna Petersen, Sydni Powell, and Gauge Reyes.
TEAM 3: Tyler Christenson, Lydia Downing, Adison Frerichs, Hailey Gravert, Hunter Hallengren, Marc Hoggard, Mallory Loerts, Jack Low, and Hailey Schneider.
