Clarke Central High School social studies department teacher and and Mock Trial teacher-coach Kalli James-Wyrick coaches the CCHS Mock Trial team on Jan. 31. James-Wyrick is thrilled about Mock Trial competition being so close to home. “Nationals are in Athens this year, so that really puts a little fire underneath your belly to get going,” James-Wyrick said. Photo by Colin Frick
With their second competition of the year on Feb. 23, Clarke Central High School social studies department teacher Kalli James-Wyrick is excited for her second year as a teacher-coach on the CCHS Mock Trial team.
Colin Frick: What is Mock Trial?
Kalli James-Wyrick: Mock Trial is a competition in which you are taking evidence in a case that you’ve gotten witness statements and preparing for an actual trial where you have attorneys and witnesses and you go through the entire steps of a trial from the opening statements to the closing arguments and with objections and certain rules that they have.
CF: What is Mock Trial to you?
KJW: Mock Trial is really special to me because I was on the Clarke Central Mock Trial team all four years of high school. I was really shy going into high school and it helped me have a group of people who I felt comfortable around and gave me a way to work on expressing myself more in front of people as well without getting nervous.
CF: How is Mock Trial different from when you were a student at CCHS?
KJW: One of the biggest change is the technology. We didn’t have (laptops), so everything we did and shared was typed up, printed out and given. When we made changes we had to go back home to our computers because laptops weren’t a thing and go and change it print it out and bring it in. As far as working on stuff, it’s pretty much the same. It’s pretty much the same but the biggest change really is the technology aspect.
CF: How has the team changed from last year to now?
KJW: We’ve got a lot of people who were on the team last year so that was nice. We’ve got a lot of people who already have worked together and know about Mock Trial and then we were able to bring a lot of new people who are really excited to be on the team. This year we’ve been more gung ho about getting started. This year we’ve gotten on it a lot and nationals are in Athens this year, so that really puts a little fire underneath your belly to get going. Everyone seems really enthusiastic about what’s going on and working really hard.
CF: When is your first competition and is the team ready?
KJW: Our first competition is February 2nd and we’re looking pretty good. I think our biggest thing last year was getting objections down and being confident in their objections, so I think that within the next couple weeks will be a big focus in making sure that when they object that they can name that rule really quickly and that if they are fighting that objection they are naming that rule with confidence and getting it in. As far as being prepared with our case, we’re looking really good.
CF: What are competitions like?
KJW: The day of competition you’re in super early and it starts at eight. The actual competition starts at about 8:45 a.m. Every time you go through the trial, it takes about two hours.
CF: What effect does Mock Trial have on those who participate?
KJW: Hearing it, a lot of students are like, “Oh, I don’t wanna be a lawyer (as a career).” But I wanted to be a teacher when I did it. Some of the people on the team when I went to high school are attorneys now, but many are in business, some teach, some do whatever. It’s more about building confidence and building these important skills of preparation and speaking in front of people and being able to think on your feet. Those are skills that can be spread at over lots of different careers that they might have in the future.
