06-05-2025
Vestal HS places 2nd in regional mock trial competition
VESTAL, NY (WIVT/WBGH) – After conquering the Broome County division, one local high school's debate team faced off in the regional round over the weekend.
Vestal High School's mock trial team defeated Binghamton High School to advance to the regional round.
In mock trial competitions, two teams are given a fictional lawsuit, and a coin flip designates which team is the plaintiff and which is the defense.
They use fictional evidence and witness testimony to support their arguments and create questions for direct and cross examination.
The mock trial advisor, Zachary Gretsky says teams earn points based on how well they ask questions and respond to objections.
'We have students that have interest in law and students that have no interest in law. Really, what they come here to do is find a way to work as a team, to approach problems that have complex answers and solutions, and apply their different ideas and solutions to that,' says Gretsky.
Over the weekend, Vestal won in the semi-finals against Tompkins County, and placed second in the region overall, after losing in the finals to a school from Onondaga County.
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