Tottenville High School Mock Trial Association

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FINALLY!!
Tottenville Captures State Championship

Team poses for a photo with the Honorable David R. Homer after winning the championship.

5.22.09 - The Tottenville High School Mock Trial team defeated the Lehman Alternative Community School on Tuesday to capture the 2009 New York State Championship. Tottenville was awarded the title by United States, Northern District of New York, Magistrate Judge David R. Homer. Not only was it the school? first-ever state championship, but it was the first time a high school from Staten Island won the tournament.

The state competition is run by the New York State Bar Association? (NYSBA) Law, Youth & Citizenship Committee. Each year, the six region winners travel to Albany to compete for the prestigious state title. The road to Albany was certainly not easy. New York City is the second largest region in the competition, consisting of close to 100 schools. Attorney coach Gregory P. Matarrese explained, ?e had to survive seven single elimination competitions just to win the region, including an intense final round against one of the best schools in the state [Marymount]. The Marymount School is a perennial rival of Tottenville and a former state champion. On May 11, Tottenville bested the Marymount School in front of the Honorable Brian M. Cogan of the Eastern District of New York.

Over the past six years, the Tottenville team has appeared in five city championship rounds and three state finals. Read more.

On Top Again!
Tottenville successfully defends city title

5.11.09 - It was three years to the day that Tottenville suffered one of its most crushing losses in program history. Armed with one of the most talented teams in recent years, Tottenville was hoping to get back to Albany for the first time since 2004. But things didn't go as planned and May 11, 2006 lives in Tottenville infamy: the day Tottenville lost for the second consecutive year in the New York City Championship Round. Three years later, with over half of that '06 team in attendance, the Tottenville team took a minor step to vindicate those '05 and '06 losses. Representing the plaintiff Dr. Chris Cross, Tottenville defeated the Marymount School to win the 2009 New York City Championship. This is Tottenville's second consecutive New York City Championship, after defeating the Bronx School of Law and Government last year. "This was our toughest round by far," said junior Nicole DeLaRue, "We worked really hard and it? an absolutely amazing feeling to win!" The sense of gratification was also there for the alumni: "I was a part of both of those finalist teams and it hurt a lot," said THS graduate and current Syracuse University student Abel Thomas, "There was definitely a stigma associated with our program as finalists. To watch this group do it two years in a row feels great". The team will go on to Albany to vie for its first ever New York State title.

Team poses for a photo with the city championship trophy after their victory.
The Honorable Brian Cogan presided over the round.

Pirates Place Two in the Top Ten at the Empire
Tottenville places 3rd and 7th at international event

Team 567 after finishing in 3rd place at the Empire.

10.12.09 -The Tottenville High School Mock Trial Team placed two teams in the top ten at the second annual Empire City Invitational. The Empire is an international high school tournament that allows students to perform in a collegiate mock trial atmosphere. In a field of 18 teams, Totttenville teams took 3rd and 7th place, finshing with a record of 6-2 and 5-3 respectively. Many of the Tottenville competitors took home some extra hardware. Joseph La Barbara, Kelsey Knutsen and Heather Siegfried all received outstanding attorney awards, and Amar Patel, Ashaley McDaniel and Dean Baeles collected outstanding witness awards. Both Tottenville teams also had the pleasure of competing against some of the world? best mock trial teams, including CheongShim High School from South Korea, as well as St. Pius X High School and Wollongong High School, both from Australia. This was senior Amar Patel's second time competing at the Empire and he couldn't be happier, "The Empire is the most fun experience I've had with Mock Trial," said Patel, "the level of competition is top notch with some of the best teams we've ever played. We're also given the oportunity to make friends from across the country and globe, which is another reason why the experience is so amazing."

Disclaimer: This is an independently owned and maintained website. We are not in any way associated with Tottenville High School, the New York City Department of Education or with any of their affiliate agencies. All news articles and images are properties of their respectful owners and are here for informative purposes only. The views and opinions expressed herein do not reflect the views of Tottenville High School or the New York City Department of Education nor are they responsible for the contents hereof.