For the third straight year, KO’s Middle School Mock Trial Team advances to Quarterfinals.

Kingswood Oxford Middle School Mock Trial Team. Photo credit: Theresa Ravalese

Submitted by Kingswood Oxford School

For the third straight year, the Middle School Mock Trial team emerged as one of the four best (out of 12) schools at the regional level of the statewide Civics First contest and will now compete in the quarterfinals on Feb. 24.

KO’s 13-member team prevailed over King Philip Middle School in West Hartford (on the plaintiffs’ side) and St. Paul School of Bristol (on the defense) during the competition at KO on Feb. 2.

The plaintiff attorneys were Aidan O’Loughlin ’20, James Ravalese ’20, and Molly Carroll ’21. The defense attorneys were Brooke Avery ’20, Matthew Marottolo ’20, and Jacob Scheinblum ’21.

Witnesses for the plaintiff were Evan Bygrave ’21, Michael Greco ’21, and Caitlyn Budzik ’21, while defense witnesses were Kyle Frankel ’21, Ian Givens ’21, and Claire Taylor ’21. Garrett Mastella ’21 was bailiff.

“I am very proud of how the Middle School Legal Wyverns performed,”said Ryan Costantini, a lawyer for United Technologies who serves as the team’s Attorney Coach. “All the kids worked very hard to learn their roles, and our eighth-graders provided excellent leadership.”

Mock Trial began at KO just eight years ago, when the Middle School team was started by Costantini and English teacher Nancy Horowitz. English teacher Lynne Levine is now faculty advisor. This year, parents Rob Scheinblum and Theresa Ravalese volunteered to serve as judges during practice rounds.

Since it was formed, the MS team has made it to the quarterfinals twice and to the semifinals in 2010-11. In 2012, Mock Trial was added to the Upper School, as well.