On Nov. 20-24, the Clarke Central High School Mock Trial Team will be participating in the Empire Competition in San Francisco, Ca. “I would really like to use this experience to bond with the Mock Trial team as a whole, I think we’re really gonna have some great experiences and some fun times, all while improving ourselves as whatever we desire to be,” junior Nicole Googe said.
By KATY MAYFIELD – News Writer
The Clarke Central High School Mock Trial Team is preparing to showcase their legal skills at the international level this Nov. at the Empire Competition in San Francisco.
The competition, which will take place Nov. 20-24, will host 24 teams from across the globe, including competitors from Korea, Canada and Wales. Mock Trial team faculty sponsor Kathy Erickson believes the CCHS team is prepared for the challenge.
“It’s a natural next step for the team because staying locally, it doesn’t help the team grow. It’s just a natural next step for a team of this caliber,” Erickson said.
To finance the $20,000 trip, the team is raising money using the website gofundme.com, asking for donations from community members and businesses, and hosting fundraisers at businesses like Chick-Fil-A.
“As far as the funding goes, it is expensive, but I think it’ll be a really great opportunity for us to grow and develop as a team,” junior and Mock Trial attorney Nicole Googe said.
Coaches and Mock Trial team members alike are optimistic about the trip, regardless of its costs, and feel that it will help prepare the team for the 2015 Georgia Mock Trial season.
“For people who haven’t been able to compete before, (the Empire Competition will provide) the experience of having been able to compete and already know the rules and be even more used to working with each other,” Googe said.
