Mentor High Mock Trial Team Advances to States

The competed at regionals Friday in Cleveland.

While Team Terminator was unfortunately eliminated, Team Snollygoster -- it means "a clever person" -- won both of its trials and advanced to the State Finals in Columbus on March 8 through 10.

That would be a notable accomplishment for any team, but it's especially impressive for Team Snollygoster because they are the school's junior team.

All of its members are first-time participants in the mock trial, said attorney Dennis LoConti, who is the team's legal advisor.

In addition to LoConti, the team is also coached by Katharine Glover -- a 2009 Mentor High grad and former mock trial team member -- and teacher Carol Hoover.

In a mock trial, members of the team serves as attorneys and witnesses in the trials. One school serves as the plaintiff's side, while the other is the defendant.

Teams compete twice and must win both of their cases to move on to the next level .

And, while the case is fictional, the case law the students need to memorize was all fact.