BY MELANIE C. JOHNSON
A veteran and a newbie to the state competition represented San Bernardino and Riverside counties respectively this weekend at the 34th annual California Mock Trial Finals. The teams from Redlands and Hemet high schools were among the estimated 750 students from 36 counties to participate in the three-day event at the Historic Riverside County Courthouse downtown. Participants squared off in courtrooms during day two of the competition Saturday, with teams arguing both sides of a case involving the alleged theft of a $100,000 painting. The students were expected to find out late Saturday night who will compete today for the state title. Those results were not available as of 10:30 p.m. The state winner will represent California in the national competition in Raleigh, N.C., in May, said Lourdes Morales, senior program director for the sponsoring Constitutional Rights Foundation. Hemet High School coach James Walsh said winning the county championship was a first for his program, which he and fellow teacher Kevin Whalen started 12 years ago. Participation is an extracurricular activity, so students dedicate after-school hours and some Saturdays for preparation, he said. All of the students are so strong individually, which is what helped them advance this season, Walsh said. “Our team is so well balanced,” he said. “There is not a person on it that is not able to step up when we need them to and carry the team.” The teams take their roles seriously, getting into character to play witnesses and victims, vigorously objecting to questioning by other attorneys, and thundering through closing arguments persuasively before a judge. During one closing argument, Hemet High student Huck Rees paced the floor as he ran through the reasons why the prosecution failed to prove the case against his client. He rushed his words to squeeze in a final plea for why the judge should rule not guilty just as another student called time, eliciting laughter from the spectators. This is the fourth time competing for Redlands High senior Summer Zofrea, but the team captain said she still gets nervous. Zofrea, 17, said she tried out for mock trial during her freshman year because she wanted an activity that would give her good speaking skills. The aspiring attorney got much more. “(It’s) the team,” she said of what she loves about mock trial. “We consider ourselves a family. We go through so much, wins and losses.” Redlands High has several previous championships at the county level, 13 in the past 25 years, according to the team’s longtime coach, Donna St. George. Mock trial is a class at the school, so students get instruction daily, she said. As the season moves on, they add two nights a week. Students must possess certain qualities to be successful, St. George added. “Kids who are fascinated with law,” she said, “those who understand hard work and are able to make a commitment.”