Students enjoy intensity, challenges of Mock Trial

Members of this year’s Glencoe-Silver Lake Mock Trial team are, sitting, Ellie Forcier, Alfredo Pena and Sarah Schmieg; and, standing, Mariah Koester, adviser Wanda Collins, Robin Swift, Ryley Oliver, Aubrey Giesen, Kyle Wanous and adviser Tom Schoper. Not pictured is Katie Twiss.

Glencoe-Silver Lake’s (GSL) Mock Trial team is having one of its most successful years of its existence — currently 3-1 as it headed into its final competition Thursday, Jan. 29, at the Carver County Courthouse.
But its participants have found the activity far more fulfilling than its win-loss ratio.
Many of the team members jokingly claim they joined Mock Trial from “peer pressure” by GSL instructor Tom Schoper, one of the team’s advisers.
But in a more serious vein, most said they were looking for something that required mind power.
“I wanted to try something new, something with more of a mental challenge,” said Mariah Koester.
Aubrey Giesen said she was looking for an extracurricular activity that would balance mental activity with physical activity. She participates in soccer.
“I wanted something that was mentally challenging as well,” said Giesen.
And she found it in Mock Trial, which Giesen said is as taxing as playing a sport.
“I’m just drained after a (mock trial) competition,” said Giesen.
Alfredo Pena agreed with Giesen’s assessment.
“I really like the intensity,” said Pena.

For more, see the Feb. 4 print edition of The Chronicle.