PTHS Mock Trial Team takes fifth place at state

Posted 3/24/21

Port Townsend High School’s mock trial team finished fifth out of 24 teams competing statewide in the finals.

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PTHS Mock Trial Team takes fifth place at state

The Port Townsend Mock Trial team gathers for a photo. Left to right: Sorina Johnston, Ava Butterfield, Willow Hoins, Will Hiegel, Maya Dow, Stuart Dow (back center), Emillia Nunn (center), Max Stewart (center sitting), River Kisler, Indigo Gould, Josephine Mack, Finn O’Donnell, Sam Lampert, Melody Douglas, Not pictured: Dahlia Dexter; Jake Fenton.

Photo courtesy Chris Pierson

Posted Wednesday, March 24, 2021 5:48 pm

Alli Patton
apatton@ptleader.com

Port Townsend High School’s mock trial team finished fifth out of 24 teams competing statewide in the finals.

The state competitions began Wednesday, March 17 and ran through Sunday, March 21.

The Redhawks won their trials versus Tri-Cities Prep, Holy Names, and Wenatchee high schools, losing only to Kings High School in a tough and well-argued round Saturday.

“We were very natural and very much ourselves,” PTHS mock trial coach Chris Pierson said proudly. “It was a close round.”

“We’re going to keep being the team that is honest and authentic,” he added.

The state-honored nominations for Best Witness went to Max Stewart, Finn O’Donnell, and Sorina Johnston. The Best Attorney nominees were Maya Dow, Sorina Johnston, Willow Hoins, and River Kisler.

“We’ve had teams with stars in the past, but this team was a really solid team,” Pierson said. “There was no need for a star because everyone pulled their weight.”

The senior team members are natural leaders, some having served on the team since middle school.

“All these kids are amazing,” the coach added.

“I’m really happy with the community support and I’m mostly really proud of the students and the class that they show all the time – the class, the integrity, and the intelligence,” Pierson said.

Everyone who participated will be honored in May, but for now, the coach gave his congratulations to the 2020-2021 mock trial team.