Nova Classical Academy, a K-12 charter school in St. Paul and this year’s state mock trial champion, took third place at the 2016 high school National Mock Trial Tournament on May 14. Seniors Caroline Behling-Hess, Mary Clare Burke, Sophia Cherif, Ignasi Dorca, Hannah Hoefs, Liam Magistad, Anya Magnuson, and Luke Westawker ran an undefeated 2016 season, winning a total of 15 trials, four of them at the national tournament in Boise, Idaho. The team bested its fourth-place finish last year, this time missing the final championship round on a tie-breaker with the two finalist teams. For Behling-Hess, Dorca and Magistad, it was their second year in a row of competition at the National Tournament. The team was coached by three attorney coaches, Scott Jurchisin, Joshua Peterson, and Collin Tierney, as well as Nova alumna Liza Michaeli and faculty adviser Don Burrows.  This year marked the third time in four years that the school has won the state mock trial championship, and its third-place showing at nationals is the highest performance to date.

Minnesota has placed in the top 12 for 8 years in a row, including a champion, a runner-up, and two third place finishers. No other state has done as well.

The Minnesota High School Mock Trial Program is an exciting law-related education program that introduces students to the American legal system and provides a challenging opportunity for personal growth and achievement. Your students will exercise their critical thinking and teamwork skills, as well as the basic skills learned in the classroom. Visit the MSBA Mock Trial program page to learn more.