(November 15, 2012) — Last night about 20 students battled an opposing high school’s mock trial team and tested their law skills in their second battle in the nationwide competition sponsored by the Constitutional Rights Foundation. Last night’s trial follows the team’s first performance on Nov. 5.

With everyone’s individual scores put together, Clark received 141 out of 190 points in this first competition. The trial centers on a fictional hit-and-run case in which the driver, Adrian Vega (who was played by a student from the opposing high school), is charged with felony hit-and-run.

The bicyclist who was hit, Cameron Douglas (played by junior David Sanchez), was training for a cycling competition and now can’t ever ride again because of his shattered knee caused by the accident. The whole case was given a big twist when Douglas’s friend Toni deLuca (played by junior Vahan Ghazaryan), was accused of committing the crime by the defense’s side.

Many Clark students have been to mock trial competitions before but it was Syuzi Sargsyan’s first time last week. “People think it’s boring but it’s not,” Sargsyan said. “It’s actually cool because you feel like you are working as a grown up and are very mature, but you’re actually just a 14-year old kid.” Sargsyan said that she was nervous in the beginning of the first competition but once she got into the flow of the courtroom, it became easier.

This year was the first year that one MVP award was given by each opposing team. Because of senior Madeline Sy’s closing, she was given the award. “I had a feeling I would get it,” Sy said, “especially after my closing when I felt I did really well even though I didn’t perfectly memorize all of my words.” Scores for last night’s competition will be released shortly and will indicate whether Clark moves up to the next round.