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Mock Trial Team Heads to State After 4-0 Sweep in La Crosse
By Reedsburg Features Staff
The RAHS Mock Trial team is moving on to the state competition in Madison on March 6-7 after finishing with a perfect 4-0 record at the regional tournament held at the La Crosse County Courthouse.
The team is coached by Mr. Brian Pittman, who has headed the program for 29 years. This year’s win marks a major milestone for RAHS..
"This is the 4th time that RAHS has advanced to State in the 30 years the program has been in existence, and the 2nd time they have advanced with a Regional Championship," Pittman said.
The competition, which is organized by the State Bar Association, released this year’s case—a civil matter—back in November. Since then, the team has been preparing to argue both the plaintiff and defense sides. To get ready, Reedsburg participated in six different "scrimmages" against other schools throughout December and January.
“The cases don’t have a defined outcome, so we have to lay down a timeline that gives reason to believe if they’re guilty, negligent, or not,” said Mason Siedschlag ‘26, who portrays a lawyer representing the plaintiff.
During the rounds, the team relied on "themes" to keep the judges engaged. Noah Wenninger ‘27, a defense attorney, explained that a good theme starts in the opening statement and carries through to the closing. “Themes help both judges and the jury stay awake and able to follow the case as you lay it out,” Wenninger said.
The competition wasn't just about prepared speeches. Students had to react instantly when the opposing side objected. Wenninger noted that a sudden objection can force an attorney to "create whole new lines of questioning out of the blue."
The witnesses also had to survive intense cross-examination. Wenninger, who has played a witness in the past, said he would only give the opposing lawyers the answers they wanted if they asked a very specific, "thorough" question. “Questions such as ‘What were you doing at [a certain] time?’ are not specific enough,” Wenninger said. “I could simply just answer, ‘Well, I’m pretty sure I was breathing and my heart was beating at that time.’”
While the team is celebrating the win, the work isn't over. In addition to Mr. Pittman, the team is coached by Sauk County Circuit Court Judge Blake Duren and three RAHS alumni—Abby Rivard, Sade Murdock, and Athena Murdock—who were all members of the 2012 state-qualifying team.
“I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication this team has put forth and the Regional Win that will take them to State this year,” Pittman said.
The team moves forward to the State Semi-Finals at the Dane County Courthouse. If they place in the top two after four rounds of competition, they will argue the final round in front of the Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices at the State Capitol.
The public is welcome to attend the State Semi-Finals. Round 1 begins at 6 p.m. on March 6, with Rounds 2-4 starting at 8 a.m. on March 7 at the Dane County Courthouse in downtown Madison.
2025-2026 Mock Trial Roster:
Plaintiff Attorneys: Mason Siedschlag, Claire Siedschlag, Sam Pierce
Plaintiff Witnesses: Titan Andrus, Molly McGlynn, Val Diaz
Defense Attorneys: Danika Monson, Noah Wenninger, Andrew Bauer
Defense Witnesses: Michaela Eberle, Caleb Monson, Molly McGlynn
Time Keeper: Olive Bauer
Clerks: Jake Lichte and Aria Gada
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