Spencer High School Mock Trial qualifies for state

(Photo submitted) Chris Maurer works on his Mock Trial performance.

For the second consecutive year, the Spencer High mock trial team qualified for state level competition in undefeated competition at districts hosted at MorningsideCollege Tuesday. Earning the bid for state were Jill Applegate, Jordan Bates, Michael Seeley, Abby Bedore, Sarah Dillard, Alyssa Carlson, Emily Jones, and Brian Curry. Timer for the team was Megan Rustad.

Receiving "all regional" distinctions as determined by all scoring judges were student attorneys are Bates and Dillard along with student witnesses Applegate and Jones. Earning outstanding recognitions were Bedore as attorney and Dillard as a witness.

Curry, Applegate and Carlson have been in mock trial for six years, since middle school years.

"We worked for this and come with experience at state level competition, and now will have three weeks to fine tune for state," said Applegate.

On Spencer's other team, Chris Maurer was deemed "all regional witness" and outstanding recognitions went to Emily Rouse, Erin Rossiter as attorneys. Other team members representing Spencer were Emily Glover, Libby Hare, Kylan Ranslow, and Katy Zalaznik, Timer was Jordan Lee.

Besides the Spencer High team the other undefeated team at regionals was Des Moines Roosevelt. Spirit Lake came in third place.

(Photo submitted) The Spencer High Mock Trial team qualified for state level competition in undefeated competition at districts. Earning the bid for state were Jill Applegate, Jordan Bates, Michael Seeley, Abby Bedore, Sarah Dillard, Alyssa Carlson, Emily Jones, and Brian Curry. Timer for the team was Megan Rustad.

State tournament is held in Des Moines on March 25-27 at the Polk County Convention Complex. The top 32 teams from regional competitions throughout the state will compete in three rounds with the top four teams returning on Friday, March 27, to compete in the semi-final and final rounds.

"We hope to be there Friday," Seeley, a senior, said smiling.

The team has been working on the case for the past three months and is supported in coaching by SHS Mock Trial team alumni Everly Slawson and Marcia Jones Ramstack.