For the first time in six years, a different high school will be representing Atlantic County in the statewide Mock Trial competition.
Egg Harbor Township High School defeated Cedar Creek High School in the county final last Tuesday at the Atlantic County Civil Courthouse in Atlantic City.
“This has been a great season for these kids,” Egg Harbor Township Mock Trial coach Michael Martirone said. “These students have worked exceptionally hard since October and it was wonderful to see that hard work pay off.”
Next, Egg Harbor Township and other South Jersey county champions will compete Feb. 25 for regional titles in the New Jersey State Bar Foundation’s 2025-2026 Vincent J. Apruzzese High School Mock Trial competition.
This is the 44th year of the competition. This year’s fictional case, State v. Devon Ransom, centers on a criminal prosecution involving a false emergency “swatting” call at a local coffee shop and whether the defendant is legally responsible for the dangerous chain of events that followed.
As part of the competition, the students take on roles of prosecutors, defense attorneys, witnesses and jurors before New Jersey judges and attorneys at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick. According to the Bar Foundation, the Mock Trial competition aims to increase student comprehension of the historical, ethical and philosophical basis of the American justice system. The case workbook is made up of witness statements, evidence, facts, stipulations, procedural rules and jury charges. During the competition, judges and/or practicing attorneys preside over the cases.
Students learn life and leadership skills through listening, speaking, writing, reading and analyzing.
“Mock Trial isn’t just about winning cases, it’s about putting in the work, trusting your teammates, and building the confidence and character that will carry these students far beyond the courtroom.” Martirone said.
Led by Attorney-Coaches Paige Yedlychka, Seth Levy and Teacher-Coaches Michael Martirone and Malini Gulati, the Egg Harbor Township Mock Trial team is made up of Lawyer-Captains Eva Nye, and Carter Chew. Junior Lawyers: Aleah Hamid and Anastassia Mytnik. Witnesses include: Maya Aleksashina, Amanda Devine, Brian Cottelli, Kasey Cramer, Dean Eastwood, Isabella Gutierrez, Emily Hager, Moeez Iftikhar, Artan Lazri, Emma Lin, Grace Mutchler, Goonjon Nag, Paige Pacquing, Melina Patel, Sandhana Rajesh and Cassidy Robbins.
Egg Harbor Township’s Mock Trial team began in early October to prepare for this year’s criminal case. The students met multiple times per week to develop a case theory, compose direct and cross-examination questions, rehearse and revise.
“We learn how to think on our feet, they learn how to adjust our preparation and presentations because a trial is not scripted,” said Senior Carter Chew. Eva Nye added, “we learn how to take the smallest details from a case, connect them to the bigger themes and facts, and turn all of it into a clear, confident argument they can deliver with passion in the courtroom.”
Martirone said the value of the competition is profound in a time when there’s not a large focus on civics education in high school.
“That’s something we don’t have a whole lot of time in our classrooms to fully develop, and a program like this allows them to develop those skills,” he said.
Regional winners will then compete in semifinals, with the final competition in March.
