Redlands mock trial team tops in state
BY MELANIE C. JOHNSON
Some stared straight ahead. Others clasped their hands and bowed their heads as they awaited the verdict. But when it was announced Sunday that the Redlands High School team had won the 34th annual California Mock Trial and would go on to the national competition in May, the students erupted in cheers, jumping out of their seats and hugging each other before taking the stage in the Raincross Ballroom of the Riverside Convention Center to collect their trophy. “I am just proud of them,” coach Donna St. George said. “This is a dream come true.” The Redlands High program has seen much success, competing at the state level 14 times in the past 25 years and getting to the finals twice in the past three years, St. George said. The longtime teacher has been holding up the 1997 state championship team she coached as a model, but said one of the students told her now the 2015 squad will be the mark to hit. “They gelled this weekend,” she said. “They got on a roll.” Attorney coach Stephen Levine, who has been practicing for 36 years, said he was thrilled with how Redlands High did but was equally impressed with the competition. “Here are a thousand of the best kids in California, and they really all were excellent,” he said. “We have competed with all of these teams in scrimmages. Everyone knows all of the coaches. It’s like a family.” Attorneys Jack Juan and Derek Raynes helped coach the team as well. Teams from 36 counties participated in the threeday state competition. Riverside County was represented by Hemet High School, which finished 2-2 out of four rounds Friday and Saturday, coach James Walsh said. Redlands High, representing San Bernardino County, and Central Union High School from Imperial County were the two teams that made it into Sunday’s final. Ebram Naftzger, a junior at Redlands High, said the win felt “pretty euphoric.” “We came in two years ago as a wild card and made it to the finals,” he said. “I was a freshman. It’s pretty amazing to come back and put it away this time.” The 16-year-old said he decided to try mock trial when he got to high school because of his mom, who also had competed as a student under St. George. For team captain Summer Zofrea, a senior, this is a chance to vie for that longsought-after national title before she graduates. The 17-year-old said she too recalls losing in the fi nals two years ago. “We said, ‘We are not playing for second this time,’ ” she said. “We came to win.” The Los Angeles-based Constitutional Rights Foundation sponsors the mock trial program every year, with 8,000 students from 36 counties across the state participating in competitions during the season. “Every year it gets better,” senior program director Lourdes Morales said of the finals. “I am very excited to see new counties at the top.”REDLANDS HIGH ACCOLADES
As the winner of the California Mock Trial, Redlands High will represent the state in the national completion in Raleigh, N.C., in May. In addition to the team win, the coach and two students received individual awards: Donna St. George received the Advocate of the Year award. Tiffani Le won an Outstanding Defense Witness award. Ebram Naftzger received an Outstanding Defense Attorney award.