Sussex Central runner-up in state mock trial championship

For the second straight year, Sussex Central students have proved they have what it takes in mock trial competition.

The team made history in 2016 by being the first Sussex County team to reach the finals. This year, the team again lost to Wilmington Friends, but it was the closest scoring rounds in the competition's 26-year history, said assistant coach Thomas Murphy.

Sussex Central Principal Bradley Layfield said students should be proud of their accomplishment.

“Intellectual and artistic competition are maybe more important than sports competitions, but do not always enjoy the same level of recognition,” he said.

Junior Holly Williams earned three gavel awards for best attorney during individual rounds and also earned best attorney in the championship round. A fourth gavel award for best attorney was won by Sussex Central student Rowan Reusing.

The team competed against 26 public and private schools during the two-day competition at New Castle County Court House in Wilmington. During the competition, Sussex Central beat high school teams from A.I. DuPont, Wilmington Christian, Newark Charter and Mt. Pleasant. As state champion, Wilmington Friends will represent Delaware in a national mock trial championship.

Holly thanked her attorney coaches Ashley Bickel and Eric Hacker for their help and inspiration, and her team for all the hard work they put into the competition.

“It truly was an honor to be selected for the award gavel as best attorney in three separate trial rounds,” she said. “Also being honored as the best attorney in the championship match justified all the hard work and preparation that went into this year's competition.”

Members of the Sussex Central team were: Holly, Nate Greenlee and Jalique Frederick, as plaintiff attorneys; Emma Evans, Devon Lynch and Tarron Coursey, as plaintiff witnesses; Holly, Rowan and Braden Swain, as defense attorneys; and Blair Williams, Nate and Daniella Furtado, as defense witnesses.