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Luverne wrapped up the 2019 Mock Trial season with its fifth-consecutive trip to the state tournament.
Team results have not been released, but two individuals were recognized for their performance at the Duluth tournament on Feb. 28-March 1.
Senior Jessica Anderson was named All-State Attorney and junior Jordan Winter received the All-State Witness award.
For Jessica Anderson and seniors Jadyn Anderson and Grace Sweeney, participating at the state tournament became routine for them.
“To go to state all five of my years in Mock Trial was surreal,” Jadyn Anderson said. “My first year was the first year our team had made it to state in a very long time. Now that our team has been there five times, the excitement has not been dulled at all.”
The team competes in three rounds at the state meet. The teams with the best records vie in a fourth round for the championship.
Luverne did not make the championship round.
The defense team started off the tournament against Buffalo High School.
Defense team members included attorneys Alexa Chesley, Sophie Lanoue and Lauren Ver Steeg. Witnesses were Jadyn Anderson, Jordan Winter and Grace Sweeney.
“They were probably the best team I’ve seen in my two years at the state meet,” said coach Jason Berghorst. “It was a tough draw and, unfortunately, that was the only trial our defense competed in at the event.”
The plaintiff team went against teams from Rochester Century and Eastview high schools.
“Mock Trial is a one-class tournament, and it just so happened that all three schools we faced were much larger in enrollment than Luverne,” Berghorst said. “I am proud of how competitive we were against much larger schools.”
The plaintiff team consists of attorneys Jessica Anderson, Gunnar Oldre and Kaitlyn Anderson. Solveig Tofteland, Seno Chanthalangsy and Peter Baustian portrayed the defense witnesses.
The case involved county commissioner Hayden Brooks versus the Cahill Monitor newspaper in a defamation suit.
Other team members were Julia Ferguson, John Miller, Griffen Jarchow, Chance Tunnissen, Luke Thorson and Xavier Carbonneau. The students served as understudies, bailiffs, videographers and timekeepers.
“Mock Trial is a great way to learn about the legal system and have a bunch of fun in the process,” Sweeney said.
A part of the fun was experienced Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 26, when a pep fest was conducted for the 18-member team.
“The Mock Trial team members really do appreciate that,” Berghorst said. “I think it’s probably relatively rare for schools to recognize academic teams like Mock Trial to that degree. We are fortunate our school supports all activities the same in that way.”
The team broke up the almost eight-hour bus ride to Duluth by spending Wednesday night, Feb. 27, in St. Cloud. The team returned March 1.
The Minnesota Bar Association conducts the state’s Mock Trial competition that introduces students to the American legal system and provides a challenging opportunity for personal growth and achievement.
The state is divided into 16 regions. Luverne was the Region 4 champion.
The team’s streak of state tournament qualifying began in 2015. Luverne last competed at the state tournament in 2006.