Devon Prep’s Mock Trial Team was the only team from Bucks, Delaware, Chester or Montgomery County to make it to the Final Four of the State Mock Trial Competition in Harrisburg. After they captured the 2008 Chester County Mock Trial Championship as well as the Regional Mock Trial Championship they were eligible to participate in the state competition along with 11 other teams from across Pennsylvania.
Over 300 teams comprised of thousands of students from 67 counties in Pennsylvania participated in the annual Mock Trial competition vying for a position at the final trials in Harrisburg.
In order to win the county title Devon Prep defeated teams from Malvern Prep, Bishop Shanahan High School, Henderson High School and Great Valley High School. To capture the regional title and earn the opportunity to compete on the state level they defeated the Delaware County Champions - Strath Haven High School. In Harrisburg they defeated Montoursville High School and then Wyoming Seminary High School before being bested by Greensburg-Salem High School in the semi-final round.
Devon Prep’s Team includes the following students: Seniors Travis Reynolds of Pottstown, Michael Kiniry of Radnor, Michael Dokas of Malvern, Gregory Klupar of Wayne, Daniel Urdaneta of West Chester, James Jacobs of West Chester, Brandon Mitchell of Radnor, Andrew Farias of Broomall, Kenneth Listwak of West Chester, John Peter Kaytrosh of West Chester, and Juniors Christopher D’Aniello of Worcester, Michael Baldassari of Worcester, Brian McCarthy of Malvern and James McParland of West Chester.
Under the direction of faculty member Mr. Michael Collins and legal advisors Mr. Alan Connelly, Esq. and Mr. Michael D’Aniello, Esq., Devon Prep’s team prepared a complete prosecution and defense for a predetermined case, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Jaden Sinclair. This was a criminal case involving an alleged kidnapping. Team members played the roles of defending and prosecuting attorneys, as well as witnesses.
Although much of the case is scripted the team members have to write their own drafts for their opening and closing arguments as well as direct and cross-examination. According to Collins, “The most important thing is they have to be able to think on their own, because there is always something that will come up in these cases that you didn’t prepare them for.”
The Pennsylvania Statewide High School Mock Trial Competition is sponsored by the Young Lawyers Division of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA/YLD). Each competition was judged by area attorneys and magistrates. They judged the participants based upon their knowledge of the law, their ability to present it and their ability to work as a team.
Devon Prep is a private, Catholic, college preparatory school for young men in grades six to 12 conducted by the Piarist Fathers. Nearly 300 students attend Devon Prep which is located on a 20 acre campus on North Valley Forge Road in Devon. For more information call 610-688-7337 or visit www.devonprep.com.
