The Wayne High Mock trial teams (Red, Black and Blue) competed Nov. 21, 24 and 25 y to earn a trip to the Nebraska Mock Trial State Championships.
The competition is put on by the Nebraska Bar Association and includes schools from all over the state. Wayne competes in Region 6, mainly northeast Nebraska, with its winner representing the region at the state competition.
This year the State competition will be held at the Sarpy County Courthouse on Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 3-4.
After the initial rounds, three Wayne teams found themselves in the quarterfinal rounds.
On Friday (Nov. 21) Wayne's Black team, consisting of attorneys Alexis Legler, Landen Sharer and Lanee Rethwisch, along with witnesses Graycen Trautman, Riley Olson, Kayleigh Graybeal, Norah Davis, and Rachel Holland, took on Norfolk Public Schools. Wayne represented the defense in the trial of the State of Nebraska vs Ellis Phobos.
The two teams were fairly evenly matched and worked their way through the case. Wayne's witnesses and smooth delivery proved to be too much and they earned the hard fought win and a spot in the semifinals.
On Monday (Nov. 24) two Wayne teams would present their case to earn a spot in the Region 6 semifinals.
In the morning Wayne's Blue team, consisting of attorneys Josie Ley, Kennasyn Blecke, and Aiden Bohnert along with witnesses Grace Junck, Adrienne Anderson, Gavin Anderson, Colby Raulston, Gabriel Armstrong and Sophia Spieker, competed against South Sioux City #3. Wayne Blue presented their side of the case, defense, with poise and strength and it proved too much for the SSC team. Wayne Blue would go on to win and earn their spot in the semifinal rounds.
The afternoon on Monday found Wayne's Red team, consisting of attorneys Abigail Gapp, Madi Korth and Sidney Nelson, along with witnesses Ben Haschke, Josalynn Young, Brooklyn Jones, Caleb Raulston and Samantha Wright, representing the defense against South Sioux City #2. The two teams were very evenly matched and a hard fought match emerged. The two teams presented their cases, objected to questions and fought through arguments. After a lengthy trial it was Wayne's Red team that prevailed and earned a spot in the semifinals.
Wayne's Blue, Black and Red teams then moved onto the semifinal rounds on Tuesday (Nov. 25). Wayne's three teams represented three of the four teams in the semifinal rounds trying to get into the Region 6 finals later in the day.
Wayne's Blue and Red teams would be pitted against each other in one of those semifinal rounds. Wayne's Blue team, representing the defense, and the Red team, representing the State of Nebraska, presented their case in front of a packed courtroom. The two teams gave polished opening statements, questioned and cross examined the highly talented witnesses, fought through objections and gave passionate closing arguments. The two teams battled back and forth extremely hard.
In the end, the experience and better knowledge of the law led the senior led Blue team over the sophomore led Red team. Wayne's Red team ends their season 3-1. Wayne's Blue team earned a trip to the Region finals for a chance to get back to the State Mock Trial competition.
In the other semifinal match of the day, Wayne's team Black was in competition against South Sioux City #1. Black would represent the defense in the match. The two teams would wind their way through the case. Black gave a great opening statement to set the tone for the trial. The two teams battled through examinations and it looked to be anyone's match. With the trial up for grabs heading into closing arguments, Wayne gave an outstanding closing argument and would pull off the victory, earning themselves a trip to the finals.
Wayne would have two teams in the finals, guaranteeing a trip to State. The only question now was which team would represent Wayne.
Wayne's Blue team would represent the defendant, Ellis Phobos, and Wayne's Black team would represent the State of Nebraska. The trial would be presided over by Nebraska Supreme Court Justice William Cassel. In a rematch from the 2024 Region 6 finals, the two Wayne teams presented a spirited and highly contested match. The two teams would not give an inch throughout the trial. Both teams fought every objection extremely hard and put the Honorable Judge Cassel to work deciding on those objections. Each team's witnesses were unbelievable and would not give up anything in their answers. Both teams put on quite the show to the packed Madison County Courthouse courtroom.
After nearly two hours the two teams rested their cases and left it in the hands of the performance judges. In the end Wayne's Blue team earned themselves a trip back to the State competition. Team Black ends their season 4-1.
Wayne's Blue team, consisting of attorneys Josie Ley, Kennasyn Blecke, and Aiden Bohnert along with witnesses Grace Junck, Adrienne Anderson, Gavin Anderson, Colby Raulston, Gabriel Armstrong and Sophia Spieker, will for the second straight year represent Wayne and Region 6 in the Nebraska Bar Association's Mock Trial State Competition on Dec. 3-4 at the Sarpy County Courthouse. Last year team Blue went undefeated and earned a fourth place finish at State and will be looking to build on that this year.
"We are so proud of all of our Mock Trial teams. They all represented Wayne so well and were so professional throughout the whole process. They put in so many hours preparing this case and really earned this success. A HUGE THANK YOU to our attorney coaches, Judge Bob Ensz and Sandy Brown, in helping us figure out the law part of it all and argue the case. A special thanks to Sandy Brown for all of the hours and personal time she gave up to help all three of these teams. Good luck next week to Team Blue," said Coaches Josh Johnson & Berkly Brummond.
