The Fayetteville-Manlius High School mock trial team is set to compete in the New York State Bar Association’s Mock Trial state tournament, according to a May 15 announcement. This marks the team’s return to the statewide competition in Albany after a four-year hiatus.
Coach Joe Worm said, “We’ve had many long seasons where we came up just short. This season has been a year where they’re just locked in, and getting to experience a lot of the success that I knew they were capable of. Now, they’re finally getting to kind of see the fruits of their labor.”
The significance of this achievement is reflected in the dedication shown by students throughout the season. Returning member Chase Jaconski credited hard work for their advancement: “Everyone, from our paralegals to our witnesses to our attorneys, has put in an incredible amount of work to help us get from where we were of winning each of our preliminary rounds, winning the semifinals for our counties, winning our counties, and then going on to win all four trials at regionals. We’re really proud of everything this team has put in, and all the work we’ve put together to win all those trials.”
Several members noted how participation broadened their experiences beyond athletics. Claire Aken said, “I’m much more into the athletics than I am into the academic side of extracurriculars, so this is definitely out of my comfort zone. I’ve met a lot of people that I wouldn’t have always seen myself talking to, but I really couldn’t imagine it any other way.” Anna Jolly joined as part of the “shadow squad” late in her senior year: “I joined in January of my senior year… It’s turned into a really nice opportunity for me.”
This year marks the 44th anniversary for NYSBA’s Mock Trial program. The competition involves around 400 teams and about 4,000 high school students across New York State. The program is sponsored by NYSBA’s Law, Youth and Citizenship Committee with support from The New York Bar Foundation.
The New York State Bar Association fosters cultural and social well-being through initiatives that promote equal access to justice and public understanding of law; it uses its Bar Center in Albany for administrative operations; its membership spans all U.S. states and over 100 countries; it advances professional success while upholding justice; it supports legislative efforts related to justice—all according to the official website.
