2024-2025 THS Mock Trial at Districts

About Mock Trial 

Informational Meeting:  Tuesday August 19, 2025 in Room 315 during Tutorial.  

What is it?  Guided by teach­ers and vol­un­teer legal ad­vi­sors, stu­dents par­tic­i­pate in an orig­i­nal, un­scripted sim­u­lated trial writ­ten by at­tor­neys.  High school stu­dents argue both sides of the case in real courtrooms across the state (Ohio Center for Law-Related Education).

What are the cases about?  Each year the Ohio Case Committee creates an original and timely case.  The Ohio cases always deal with Constitutional Law.  

Who runs it?  Talawanda English teacher and law aficionado Amanda Weatherwax (aka “Waxy”) runs the program and is assisted by Talawanda alum and other Mock Trial fans.  You can reach Coach Waxy at weatherwaxa@talawanda.org.

Who should join?  Anyone interested in debate, law, acting, or public speaking would enjoy Mock Trial.  Our team is inclusive and does not require a try out.  That being said, we are highly competitive and work very hard.  We have qualified for states the last five years in a row and we have one State Championship and one Runner-Up trophy.

What are the benefits?  Students learn to think on their feet.  They learn about how the US justice system works.  They develop reasoning, writing, and public speaking skills.  

When is it?  Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:00-7:00 p.m. room 315 THS w/ additional two hours a week of practices beginning 2/3/26 if a team makes it to regionals, etc. (Tues. & Thurs. 4:30-7:30 p.m.).  We also use Tutorials, some weekend practice times, and you will be expected to work outside of practices, too.  Practices begin Thursday, August 26, 2025.

When is the last day to join?  September 16, 2026.  

Competition Dates:

December TBA Miami University Mock Hawk Invitational

January TBA University of Cincinnati High School Mock Trial Invitational

Districts 1/30/26

Regionals 2/20/26

States 3/12-3/14/26

About Moot Court

Moot Court focuses on the appellate court process and is designed to provide students the opportunity to present a simulated oral argument and respond to questions posed by a panel of volunteer judges. Arguments are evaluated on the application of the law to the facts of the case.  Moot Court also gives many students their first experience in legal writing by allowing participants to compose a legal brief related to their arguments that will be reviewed and scored by volunteer attorneys. By focusing on the applicability of Constitutional law to current legal issues, students get an opportunity to strengthen critical thinking skills and increase their understanding of the Constitution and judicial system.  Talawanda fielded its first Moot Court team last year, and we won best petitoner's brief and one of our advocates also won an award!  Moot Court brief writing and practicing will start immediately after our Mock Trial season has concluded.  Moot Court is open to any student who participated in Mock Trial, but you do not have to participate in Moot Court.

2024-2025 Mock & Moot Competition Season

December 13 Mock Hawk 

January 17, 2025 District Competition

February 7, 2025 Regional Competition

March 6-8 State Competition

May 2 Moot Court State Competition

Our Most Successful Run: THS Mock has now qualified for states five years in a row!

2025 Moot Court:  Best Brief Petitioner, Melody Miao & Shr-Lin Moore; Top-advocate award, Melody Miao.

2025 Outstanding Attorney at States:  Cameron Gieske; Outstanding Witnesses at States:  Nihal Menezes and Olive Rice

2025 Team 2 State Qualifiers!  Outstanding Witnesses at Regionals:  Luke Cheng & Shr-Lin Moore; Outstanding Attorneys at Regionals:  Katelyn Bulanda & Addison Danner

2025 Talawanda Team 2 Regional Qualifiers.  Outstanding Witnesses at Districts:  Olive Rice & Nihal Menezes; Outstanding Attorneys at Districts:  Melody Miao & Katelyn Bulanda

2025 Talawanda Team 1 Outstanding Witnesses at Districts:  Corrine Gieske & Ian Sullivan

2025 Talawanda Team 2 Top-ranked Attorney at Mock Hawk Melody Miao, Top-ranked Witness at Mock Hawk Olive Rice

2024 Muhammed Khan, Talawanda's First Gladiator Competitor

2024 Talawanda Moot Court:  Best Brief Petitioner; Muhammed Khan Second-Place Advocate Respondent

2024 Talawanda Team 1 State Qualifiers, Outstanding Attorney States:  Eliza Sullivan; Outstanding Witnesses States:  Thomas Fisher & Hailey Moser

2024 Talawanda Teams 1 and 2 Regional Qualifiers; Muhammed Khan (1) and Cassadi Rose (2), Outstanding Attorneys; Katelyn Bulanda (1) and Shr-Lin Moore (2), Outstanding Witnesses

2023 Talawanda Team 2 Runner-Up Ohio High School Mock Trial State Championship!  You can watch our final round here.

2023 Ohio High School Mock Trial State Competition Outstanding Witness:  Eliot Berberich, Will Salzarulo (xs 2!); Outstanding Attorneys:  Muhammed Khan (xs 4!!!!) and Catherine Moul

2023 Talawanda Team 1 & Team 2 STATE QUALIFIERS!  Outstanding Witnesses at Regionals:  Team 2 Eliot Berberich and Kate Bolenbaugh; Outstanding Attorneys at Regionals:  Team 1 Katelyn Bulanda; Team 2:  Muhammed Khan & Eliza Sullivan

2023 Talawanda Team 2 Regional Qualifiers; Kate Bolenbaugh & Shr-Shiang Moore, Outstanding Witnesses; Muhammed Khan & Eliza Sullivan, Outstanding Attorneys

2023 Talawanda Team 1 Regional Qualifiers; Shr-Lin Moore and Jared Sims, Outstanding Witnesses

2023 Katelyn Bulanda & Muhammed Khan Outstanding Attorneys Battle of Talawanda 

          Eliza Sullivan Outstanding Attorney Battle of Talawanda II:  The Talawanda Bowl

2023 Kate Bolenbaugh & Shr-Shiang Moore Outstanding Witnesses Battle of Talawanda

          Shr-Shiang Moore Oustanding Witness Battle of Talawanda II:  The Talawanda Bowl

2023 Team on the Docket Second Place University of Cincinnati HS Invitational 

2023 Shr-Shiang Moore Outstanding Attorney University of Cincinnati HS Invitational 

2023 Kate Bolenbaugh, Shr-Lin Moore, Shr-Shiang Moore & Jared Sims Outstanding Witnesses University of Cincinnati HS Invitational

2022 Eliot Berberich & Kate Bolenbaugh Top-Ranked Witness Miami University Mock Hawk HS Invitational

2022 Eliza Sullivan (P & D) Double-Ranked Attorney Miami University Mock Hawk HS Invitational

2022 Shr-Shiang Moore TOP-TEN WITNESS at NHSMT Championship

2022 Talawanda Team 2 (Rage Against) Ohio Mock Trial State Champions!!!!! (Click underlined portion to watch!)

2022 Eliot Berberich, Outstanding Witness Final Round State Championship

2022 Outstanding Witnesses:  Eliot Berberich, Kate Bolenbaugh, Shr-Shiang Moore, William Salzarulo, and Alex Stenger

2022 Outstanding Attorneys:  Kai Brown, Muhammed Khan, Catherine Moul, and Julia Peter

2022 Talawanda Team 1 (The Machine) Regional Qualifiers

2021 Rage Against, State Qualifiers (THS MOCK TOP 19 in OHIO!)

2021 Rita Barclay-Hart, Outstanding Attorney Ohio Districts

2021 Eliot Berberich, Outstanding Attorney and Outstanding Witness Ohio Districts, Outstanding Attorney and Outstanding Witness Ohio Regionals, Outstanding Witness Ohio States

2021 Muhammed Khan, Outstanding Witness Ohio Districts

2021 Kel Fisher, Outstanding Witness Ohio Districts, Outstanding Witness Ohio Regionals

2021 Madeline Moser, Outstanding Attorney Ohio Regionals, Outstanding Attorney Ohio States

2021 Julia Peter, Outstanding Attorney Ohio Districts

2021 Eliza Sullivan, Outstanding Attorney Ohio Districts