Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

Seattle Prep Edges Out Skyline High School to Capture 2023 YMCA Mock Trial Championship

Seattle Prep High School’s Blue Team edged out Skyline High School’s Green Team to take the Washington State 2023 YMCA Mock Trial championship on Sunday, March 26 in Olympia. Seattle Prep can now go on to compete in the national championship in Little Rock, Arkansas in May.

The Mock Trial State Finals tournament was held in the Thurston County Courthouse between 24 high school mock trial teams from across the state beginning Friday evening, continuing all day Saturday and ending in the championship trial Sunday. The teams of students competed as either prosecution or defense in the fictional criminal case of a fatal shooting after an incident of “swatting,” in which someone reports a fake emergency intending to get a SWAT team sent to a home or other location.

The top 12 high school finalists of the competition are as follows:

• 1st: Seattle Prep - Blue
• 2nd: Skyline - Green
• 3rd: Franklin
• 4th: King's - Red
• 5th: Mercer Island
• 6th: Skyline - Silver
• 7th: Wenatchee
• 8th: Holy Names - Gray
• 9th: King's - White
• 10th: Oaks Christian
• 11th: Seattle Prep - White
• 12th: Eastlake – Silver

The William Downing Values Award was presented to the new Sequim High School mock trial team, which competed for this first time. The award goes to the team best exhibiting values of sportsmanship, respect and professionalism promoted through the YMCA Mock Trial mission.

The Outstanding Attorney award for the tournament was presented to two students with tied votes – Addie Bradley from Cedar Tree Christian, and Jason Kirkpatrick from King’s High School, Red.

The Outstanding Witness award for the tournament was also presented to two students with tie votes – Anaiysaa Deswal from Holy Names, Gray and Nathan Mehari from King’s High School, White

For the championship round on Sunday, the Outstanding Attorney Award went to Kiné Yade from Seattle Prep, Blue, and the Outstanding Witness Award went to Raghav Pradhan from Skyline Green

“This is really really impressive,” Thurston County Superior Court Judge Chris Lanese told the students at the championship trial after they had finished presenting their case. He praised their knowledge and composure in arguing the two sides of a complex case. “In the courtroom, you try to develop comfort without arrogance, and you all walk that line perfectly. A lot of attorneys take years to develop that.”

Hundreds of volunteer attorneys and judicial officers across the state volunteer time to rate and judge high school teams competing in regional tournaments held throughout the school year and at the state finals.

The YMCA Mock Trial program began in 1987 and is part of the YMCA’s Youth & Government program which helps students experience democracy in action. Mock Trial allows students to participate in true-to-life courtroom drama before real judges and attorneys, gaining an understanding of the law and the role of the judiciary.

PROGRAM CONTACTS: Judge Robert Lewis, Mock Trial Program Chair, Robert.Lewis@clark.wa.gov, 360-397-2226; Amber Wetzel, YMCA Youth and Government Executive Director, awetzel@seattleymca.org,(360) 357-3475.