{"id":2094,"date":"2018-05-21T09:30:24","date_gmt":"2018-05-21T09:30:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ontherecord.empiremocktrial.org\/?p=2094"},"modified":"2018-05-22T12:39:16","modified_gmt":"2018-05-22T12:39:16","slug":"empire-family-cashes-in-at-nationals-in-reno","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ontherecord.empiremocktrial.org\/?p=2094","title":{"rendered":"Empire Family Cashes in at Nationals in Reno"},"content":{"rendered":"

7 out of top 20 schools at Nats previously competed at Empire<\/h3>\n

They went all-in. <\/span><\/p>\n

16 Empire schools worked around the clock for 5 weeks to prepare for the National High School Mock Trial Championship (\u201c\u2018Nationals\u201d), hosted in Reno, Nevada. For one week, a town known for its slot machines and poker tables transformed into the epicenter of high school mock trial.<\/span><\/p>\n

After 4 hard-fought trials against reigning champions from across the U.S. and Korea, our Empire Family cashed in big: 4 teams placed in the top 10, including the National Runner-up, while 7 placed in the top 20! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Correlation or causation? We\u2019ll let the jury decide \ud83e\udd17<\/span><\/p>\n

This year\u2019s National Runner-up is Nova Classical Academy from Minneapolis, Minnesota, who boasted a team of seasoned Empire veterans. All 9 students on their roster competed at Empire San Francisco last October with 7 of them having competed at Empire New York back in 2016. Nova\u2019s attorney coach, Collin Tierney, reflected on Empire\u2019s impact on his students:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt helped our team in two big ways. In the courtroom, it exposed them to a wide array of styles from all over the country. But the more important benefit would be the camaraderie and sense of shared accomplishment it created. Rooting for old rivals is a lesson that takes the activity out of its competitive roots and adds real world value for a lifetime.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Trumbull High School\u2019s Eric August shared a similar sentiment. The school has participated at an Empire competition every year since 2012:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEmpire is truly the foundation for a strong program. It has helped us win the Connecticut state championship in 4 of the last 6 years and advance to Nationals,\u201d said August, whose team hit blackjack at Nationals: they placed a serendipitous 21st!<\/span><\/p>\n

Support at<\/b> Nationals<\/b><\/p>\n

Not wanting to leave the success of our Family to chance, Empire sent two members of our team to Reno: Amber Rumancik (Director of Competition Experience) and Justin Matarrese (Executive Director).<\/span><\/p>\n

Before the rounds started, the duo judged a combined 14 scrimmages, providing feedback for both Empire and non-Empire teams who asked. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNationals is a great opportunity to help teams with last minute preparation, and to get to know our students better,\u201d explained Justin. \u201cWe want them to know how invested we are in them, and how much we care about their success.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jonesboro High School senior, Quincy Jean-Louis, represented the state of Georgia at Nationals this year. Judged by both Justin and Amber, Quincy felt Empire\u2019s love at Nationals:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAmber and Justin gave us some really fantastic comments,\u201d shared Quincy, who led his team to a fourth place finish and captured an Outstanding Attorney award at Nationals. \u201cI’ve been a part of the Empire family for 4 years, and it truly meant a lot to me and my entire to team to have them take the time out of their day to come judge us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Empire also supported schools at Nationals who had not previously competed at Empire. Last Wednesday, Justin judged a scrimmage between the Ambrose School (Idaho) and Creighton Prep (Nebraska). \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJustin posed the right questions and provided insightful feedback,\u201d said Idaho State Mock Trial Coordinator Carey Shoufler. \u201cWe really appreciated his help.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Family<\/b><\/p>\n

As they walked the halls of the Silver Legacy Resort and the Courthouse, students felt the power of their Empire Family.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe best thing about Empire is that you meet so many people from around the world and grow strong relationships with them,\u201d said Creekview High School\u2019s (TX) Briana Cepeda, who has both competed and volunteered for Empire. \u201cSeeing my Empire friends at Nationals made the experience that much better.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Sanjeev Viswan agreed. Representing the state of Illinois for the second time at Nationals, Sanjeev has made close friends through Empire that made Nationals more enjoyable: <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe scrimmaged Wyoming Seminary (PA) who we had faced previously in New York,\u201d said Sanjeev. \u201cWe had such a blast talking to them before and after the scrimmage. They felt more like friends than competitors, even when we faced them in round 4. We’re still great friends with the school to this day!”<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s exactly the type of camaraderie and civility that Empire seeks to develop. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHaving the Empire staff there to help us, too, made us all feel like we were part of a larger community,\u201d added Sanjeev.<\/span><\/p>\n

The camaraderie wasn\u2019t limited to the students. Empire coaches felt the same way.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAt Nationals we saw so many of the Empire teams we faced in the past. They were like family, ready to lend a helping hand and share their thoughts on how my team could improve,\u201d said Sylvania Southview High School Coach, Denny Lyle (OH). \u201cWe took those comments to heart and used them to improve throughout the competition.<\/span><\/p>\n

Full Circle <\/b><\/p>\n

Three years ago at Nationals, Empire\u2019s Executive Director judged a scrimmage for the Florida State Champion, Fletcher High School from Jacksonville, Florida. The meeting was the first between Fletcher\u2019s coach and a representative of Empire Mock Trial. <\/span><\/p>\n

That coach\u2019s name?<\/span><\/p>\n

Amber Rumancik<\/a><\/strong>, Empire\u2019s new Director of Competition Experience. Over the past three years, Amber has judged at Empire and coached a team that competed in Empire Atlanta. Coming full-circle, Amber represented Empire in Reno, judging scrimmages, chatting with students and updating our Instagram story! <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI remember the support my students and I felt from Empire when Justin judged our scrimmage in 2016. It was nice to be able to sit back, watch a trial, and receive feedback from someone who could see the forest for the trees,\u201d said Amber. \u201cThis year, I was excited to give back to students competing and give their coaches the same break I valued three years prior. The students were amazing to watch and they were SO appreciative of my help. I can\u2019t wait to get to know them better this fall.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/b><\/p>\n

Mock trial is a competition that requires skill with a dash of luck! Although it was impossible for every team to have a \u201cwinning\u201d hand, we are so proud of all of our Empire students who participated at Nationals this year. <\/span><\/p>\n

A special shout out and congratulations to our new friends that we met in Reno: teams from Florida, Guam, Idaho, Indiana, Nebraska, Washington and Wyoming!<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n