Louisville aces mock trial


SMART PHOTO—Louisville High School wins the Los Angeles County Mock Trial Championship with, top row: Lily Davoren, McKenna Dixon, Emily Hurtado, Daniella Lopez, Stella Rose. Middle row: Julianna Barlow, Carolina Casillas, Gia Corey, Alanna Lemp. Bottom row: Maddie Magruder, Brigitte Morgan- Varga, Kate Powledge, Sarah Stern. Courtesy photo

SMART PHOTO—Louisville High School wins the Los Angeles County Mock Trial Championship with, top row: Lily Davoren, McKenna Dixon, Emily Hurtado, Daniella Lopez, Stella Rose. Middle row: Julianna Barlow, Carolina Casillas, Gia Corey, Alanna Lemp. Bottom row: Maddie Magruder, Brigitte Morgan- Varga, Kate Powledge, Sarah Stern. Courtesy photo

Louisville High School’s Mock Trial team has won the senior division of the 2020 Constitutional Rights Foundation Los Angeles County Mock Trial competition.

The tournament hosted 110 schools and over 1,800 students from across the county.

Louisville High School is a private Catholic school for girls in grades nine through 12 in Woodland Hills.

Louisville defeated the defending champions in the semifinals to advance to the finals, which they won over the Girls Academic Leadership Academy of Los Angeles to claim the title.

The Louisville Mock Trial coach is social science chair Michael Telesca.

“I was a bit skeptical at the beginning that it could be done virtually,” Telesca said. “But I decided to do it so that these kids could have some respite from just sitting in virtual classes . . . and would have more of an opportunity to have some joyful moments that can only come from this type of enterprise,” he said.

The Mock Trial program provides an opportunity for students to build critical thinking skills as they analyze a case, build persuasive arguments and collaborate as a team.

It is Louisville’s 11th L.A. County title in the 43rd year of the tournament and the first title for the Royals since 2013.

It was also the first time the competition was held virtually, due to the pandemic.

The Mock Trial program provides an opportunity for students to build critical thinking skills as they analyze a case, build persuasive arguments, collaborate as a team, and present articulately and confidently.

The team will continue to practice throughout the winter in preparation for the state tournament in the spring.

Louisville has won one state title, in 1993.