Nova Mock Trial Students Excel
Nova Mock Trial Students Excel
February 17, 2012
Nova Wins Mock Trial Regional Championship,
Advances to State Tournament
While the final round of the regional championship will not take place until next Thursday, it is a certainty that a team from Nova will win the championship and be one of twelve teams that will have earned the right to compete at the state tournament in Rochester in early March. The final round for the Region 8 qualifying tournament will be an all-Nova affair with Team Nova Classical battling it out with Nova Classical Blue.
On Thursday, February 16, Nova Blue secured its berth in the final round with a 224–216 win over Maple Grove in the regional semi-finals. Team Nova had a closer round and squeaked by with a 224–222 win over Nova Red.
Nova Red ends its season with a record of 20–4. The best third team in the state is captained by Sam Wegner. Other members of the Red team are Elena Tran, Margaret Flynn Sapia, Elan Nelson, Jack Salzman, Rebecca Bard, Evan Peterson, Quinn Graham, and Karl Geary.
The regional championship trial will take place at 5: 30 p.m. on Thursday, February 23 at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis.
February 2, 2012
Nova Mock Trial Teams Advance to Regional Playoffs
Each of Nova’s three Mock Trail teams went through the preliminary rounds of the regional tournament undefeated. On Thursday, February 2, Team Nova Blue defeated Woodbury 237–223, Team Nova Classical prevailed over Farmington Blue by a score of 240–210, and Team Nova Red had a bye.
The top four teams in each of the state’s twelve regions advance to the playoffs. In Region 8, three of the top four teams are from Nova. On 5.30 pm, February 16 at the Hennepin County Government Center, Nova Blue hits Maple Grove while Nova Classical and Nova Red meet each other. The clash between the two Nova teams will feature two teams that sport identical 20–2 season records.
The winners of the semi-final rounds will return to Minneapolis on February 23 to decide the regional championship and a berth to the state tournament. Nova, of course, is assured of having at least one team in the championship round.
Nova is the only school in Minnesota to have placed three teams in the regional playoffs.
January 27, 2012
Extraordinary Success
Last night three of our Mock Trial teams beat their opponents (Osseo, Eagan, and St. Paul Central). This is the second week in a row they have done so. Next Thursday is the final round and if we continue to do well, we could have not just one but possibly more than one team move forward to Regional Play-offs, which is extraordinary. In addition to commending our captains (Michaela Johnson, Jake Henke, Peter Jones, and Sam Wegner), a big thank you goes to Mr. Lesicko, Dr. Kelley and our own Dr. Whalen for the many hours they’ve put into coaching and preparing our students.
January 27, 2012
Nova Mock Trial Teams Win Second of Three Rounds at Regionals
All three Nova mock trial teams posted impressive wins at the Ramsey County Courthouse on Thursday, January 26. Nova Red took down St. Paul Central 244–222, Nova Blue beat New Life Academy 231–209, and the final team defeated Eagan by a score of 234–217. The third round of the regional tournament will take place Thursday, February 2.
January 20, 2012
Nova Mock Trial Teams Win First of Three Rounds at Regionals
All three Nova mock trial teams posted impressive wins at the Ramsey County Courthouse on January 19. Nova Red took down nine-time regional champion Visitation 217-197, Nova Blue beat Farmington 213-201, and the final team defeated Osseo by a score of 228-181. The second round of the regional tournament will take place Thursday, January 26.
January 17, 2012
Nova Students Excel at the Macalester Trials
On Saturday, January 14, Nova’s Mock Trial teams captured 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 6th place out of a field of 15 teams, with 2nd place going to Eagan and 5th to East Ridge. Nova’s first-place team finished the tournament 12–0 on ballots. In addition to the team awards, 15 members of the squad won individual awards for their efforts as attorneys and witnesses. O u t s t a n d i n g Witnesses were Linda Stack Nelson, Liza Savvateev, Frances Burr, Elena Tran, Elan Nelson, Chloe Kirk, and Grace Burns. Outstanding Attorneys were Sam Wegner, Chase Adelsman, Jake Henke, Michaela Johnson, Nick Vance, Liza Michaeli, Aru Shiney-Ajay, and Ellie Cruz-Krause. Liza and Ellie were the tournament’s top ranked attorneys and the only competitors to achieve a perfect ranking.
Three Varsity teams now compete at the regional qualifying tournaments at the Ramsey County Courthouse on Thursday, January 19; Thursday, January 26; and Thursday, February 2.
January 9, 2012
January Mock Trial Victories
While only in its second season, Nova’s Mock Trial program is making a name for itself. At a Saturday, January 7 Invitational Tournament at the University of Minnesota, Nova had both the largest squad in attendance and also brought home more awards than any other school at the competition. One of Nova’s four teams finished with an undefeated record and captured the third-place trophy, while four students won individual awards.
Nova’s Novice Team, composed entirely of ninth graders competing at their first tournament, achieved one win and one tie against fifth-place West Lutheran High School. Nova’s top team was at the top of the bracket after the first round of competition, and that honor resulted in a second-round matchup with two-time defending state champion Breck School. Breck prevailed by two points on one ballot and five on the other (with 140 possible points per ballot).The third-place award-winning team is captained by Sam Wegner. Other team members are Elena Tran, Margaret Flynn-Sapia, Elan Nelson, Jack Salzman, Karl Geary, Evan Peterson, and Rebecca Bard. Elena and Michaela Johnson won outstanding attorney awards and Elan and Linda Stack-Nelson were named outstanding witnesses at the tournament. Elena won Nova’s first mock trial award as an outstanding witness at last year’s tournament; this year she won in her first appearance as an attorney.
January 3, 2012
December Mock Trial Victories
Three Nova Mock Trial teams competed in December at the Lakeville South Annual Early Season Scrimmage. Each team completed two trials. No win-loss records were announced at this event, but scrimmage judges designated best witness awards and one best lawyer award.
