Semifinals and final rounds set for virtual competition on Saturday, February 27; Awards include internships with Riverside County Public Defender’s Office, Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, and the Riverside County Superior Court
RIVERSIDE – After five rounds of competition featuring 20 schools and nearly 400 students, legal teams from four local high schools have advanced to the semifinals of the 39th Annual Riverside County Mock Trial Competition at 9 a.m. on Saturday, February 27, 2021, with the winners advancing to the championship round at 1 p.m.
“Final Four” Round
Prosecution: Martin Luther King High School vs. Defense: Notre Dame High School
Prosecution: Poly High School vs. Defense: Chaparral High School
Due to pandemic restrictions on crowds, all mock trial competitions for 2021 are being held virtually. Virtual audience members are strictly limited to teams in order to ensure student connectivity and protect competitive strategy ahead of the 2021 California State Mock Trial Championship set to take place virtually from March 19-21.
Mock Trial involves students arguing cases in front of real judges, and scored by practicing attorneys. The multi-round competition is open to all students in grades 9 through 12 enrolled in public and private high schools in Riverside County. Teams consist of 8-25 students filling the virtual courtroom roles of defense and prosecution attorneys, witnesses, clerks, and more.
This year’s competition features students trying the fictional case of People vs. Croddy. Lee Croddy, who hosts a popular YouTube channel called The Right Choice of News (RCN), is being charged with aiding and abetting in the commission of first-degree burglary by another and accessory after the fact.
On Saturday, February 20, more than a dozen students were honored for top performances with medals, golden gavel pins, trophies, and prestigious internships in local legal organizations after the fourth round of competition.
2021 Riverside County Mock Trial Competition
AWARD RECIPIENTS
Outstanding Bailiff
1st Place – Gold Medal: Bryan Chang, Xavier College Preparatory High School
2nd Place – Silver Medal: Rachel Reiter, Martin Luther King High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Anthony Ortiz, Ramona High School
Outstanding Clerk
1st Place – Gold Medal: Dylan Aguinaldo, Great Oak High School
2nd Place – Silver Medal: Tiffani Baik, Xavier College Preparatory High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Ayanna Grunwald, Notre Dame High School
Outstanding Defense Pretrial Motion Attorney
1st Place – Gold Medal: Xuan-Anh Ly Biggs, Poly High School*
2nd Place – Silver Medal: Ayanna Grunwald, Notre Dame High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Isaiah Banuelos, Patriot High School
* Winner of summer internship in the Riverside County Superior Courts and Riverside County Bar Foundation’s Honorable Douglas E. Weathers Scholarship
Outstanding Prosecution Pretrial Motion Attorney
1st Place – Gold Medal: Annalise Steinmann, Great Oak High School*
1st Place – Gold Medal: Amory Martin, Ramona High School*
2nd Place – Silver Medal: Krishna Koka, Hemet High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Tara Bakhshi Dezful, Palm Desert High School
* Winner of summer internship in the Riverside County Superior Courts and Riverside County Bar Foundation’s Honorable Douglas E. Weathers Scholarship
Outstanding Prosecution Witnesses
Witness: Remi Montoya
1st Place – Gold Medal: Jia Sergeant, John W. North High School
2nd Place – Silver Medal: Jared Williams, Ramona High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Gavin Bock, Palm Desert High School
Witness: Drew Marshak
1st Place – Gold Medal: Jordyn Alex, San Jacinto High School
2nd Place – Silver Medal: Gabriel Smith, Hemet High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Derick Talay, La Quinta High School
Witness: Max Bird
1st Place – Gold Medal: Jacob Phelps, Martin Luther King High School
2nd Place – Silver Medal: Gabriel Taylor, Valley View High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Darian Satcherwhite, Hemet High School
Witness: Kai Chavez
1st Place – Gold Medal: Samira Ahmed, John W. North High School
2nd Place – Silver Medal: Estera Boca, Poly High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Jessica Diaz, Hemet High School
Outstanding Defense Witnesses
Defendant: Lee Croddy, Defendant
1st Place – Gold Medal: Luis Venegas, Valley View High School
2nd Place – Silver Medal: Alberto Cortes, Indio High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Dylan Sevenikar, Great Oak High School
Witness: Zuri O’Neill
1st Place – Gold Medal: Liliana Alegria, Paloma Valley High School
2nd Place – Silver Medal: Madyson Schindler, Martin Luther King High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: James Peters, Great Oak High School
Witness: Jes Beaart
1st Place – Gold Medal: Cheyenne Stokes, Paloma Valley High School
2nd Place – Silver Medal: Christopher Moya, Xavier College Preparatory High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Destiny Casas, Indio High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Addison Foltz, Great Oak High School
Witness: Erin Sullivan
1st Place – Gold Medal: Bella Franco, Ramona High School
2nd Place – Silver Medal: Mia Scott, Patriot High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Cameron Lara, Santiago High School
Outstanding Prosecution Attorneys
Gold Medal: Alpha Muyambo, Valley View High School**
Gold Medal: Paige Thamer, Temecula Valley High School
Gold Medal: Jennifer Hibbard, Poly High School
** Winner of summer internship in the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and Riverside County Bar Foundation’s Honorable Douglas E. Weathers Scholarship
Outstanding Defense Attorneys
Gold Medal: Chloe Christensen, Martin Luther King High School***
Gold Medal: Kaylin Polk, Temecula Valley High School
Gold Medal: Jennifer Hibbard, Poly High School
*** Winner of summer internship with the Riverside County Public Defender’s Office and Riverside County Bar Foundation’s Honorable Douglas E. Weathers Scholarship
Riverside County Mock Trial Historical Results
2020 – Poly High School
2019 – Poly High School
2018 – Martin Luther King High School
2017 – Poly High School
2016 – Poly High School
2015 – Hemet High School
2014 – Poly High School
2013 – Poly High School
2012 – Poly High School
2011 – Poly High School
2010 – Woodcrest Christian High School
2009 – Poly High School
2008 – Temecula Valley High School
2007 – Martin Luther King High School
2006 – Woodcrest Christian High School
2005 – Poly High School
2004 – Poly High School
2003 – Poly High School
2002 – Poly High School
2001 – Arlington High School
2000 – John W. North High School
1999 – Woodcrest Christian High School
1998 – Temecula Valley High School
1997 – Corona High School
1996 – Poly High School
1995 – Norte Vista High School
1994 – Arlington High School**
1993 – Arlington High School
1992 – Poly High School
1991 – Poly High School
1990 – Poly High School
1989 – John W. North High School
1988 – Poly High School
1987 – Poly High School
1986 – John W. North High School
1985 – Ramona High School
1984 – Ramona High School
1983 – Perris High School