The Knoxville Mock Trial team competed in regionals Thursday, finishing in second-place one point behind Des Moines Roosevelt. With the second-place finish, Knoxville advances to the State Mock Trial competition beginning Thursday, March 31 at the Iowa Events Center In Des Moines.

 Kailan Ethell spoke with KNIA/KRLS News about the team’s success.

“I’m excited, I know we were nervous heading into spring break but we pulled it through with the technical things and I think that it’s exciting that we get to compete at state.”

Noah Pearson Talks about the coaches 

“Ed and Lisa have been great to us. I really appreciate the technical skills that Ed coaches and teaches us.  I think he is good at preparing us for whatever we will face. Lisa has been great, she’s the friendly face in the group.”

Janie Maasdam talks about the team dynamic and how that has helped their success.

“I think our team dynamic is very interesting because we are not just a group of Seniors. It’s a mix of Seniors, Juniors, Sophomores, and Freshmen and I think having everybody come from different clicks and different groups has pulled together our team dynamic. We all get along which is really good for mock trial as you are scored on team points so that helps.”

Members of the Mock Trial team include Kailan Ethell, Johanna Leonard, Isabella Day-Suhr, Ryan Grinstead, Brandon Barkey, Janie Maasdam, Elliott King, Charlye Willis, Aleksa Pettyjohn, and Noah Pearson.