by Aaron Tinklenberg
Thisweek Newspapers

For the third year in a row, a mock trial team from Apple Valley High School proved to be one of the best in the state.

Coached by Paul Kramer and attorney David Albright, the team of Jenna Louwagie, Jessie Albright, Amy Carlson, Martin Kleemann, Jordan Sing, Meryn Fluker and Becca Sparling finished third at this year's state competition.

In mock trial competitions, some team members act as attorneys while others are witnesses as they argue against opposing teams from opposing schools. While the case they argue about stays the same ñ this year's involved a restaurateur accused of killing an employee to keep her quiet ñ the side the team takes can change each trial.

"It's hard to take in so much material and learn all of the objections and which rule numbers to cite," said senior Jenna Louwagie, explaining the depth of legal knowledge participants must have.

But preparation doesn't stop with the legalities, according to head coach Paul Kramer. To be a top team, you must be convincing in every way.

"It's a combination of debate and speech and theater all in one," Kramer said. "[Theater director] Shelly Potter worked with all of our witnesses. We let her help the students give character to the roles."

Considering everything they needed to remember, it would have been easy to expect some nervousness going into the state competition. But Becca Sparling, who played the role of a witness, says the opposite was true.

"That was our goal, to make it to state finals," she said. "We had done all the work and we said we would just go have fun."

Along with their hard work and dedication, Kramer attributes some of the team's success to familiarity. Most of its members have been working on mock trial together since they were ninth-graders.

Despite having four years of "mock" legal experience, not all members of the team plan on continuing down that road. Louwagie, for one, says she will likely pursue some legal studies. Jordan Sing, who was named to the all-state team, is already in a mentorship program with a Dakota County judge.

Aaron Tinklenberg is at av.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.

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