“Objection: hearsay!”

This is a common line echoing from the Mock Trial room this time of year, and it means that testimony from outside the courtroom is being used to prove the truth of the case being argued, a violation of Mock Trial rules.

Mock Trial coach Danielle Gondik-Anderson had been anticipating the official case since the beginning of the school year, even taking time in early Oct. to set up a fall camp in preparation for the season.

This time, however, the release date for the case was pushed back.

Instead of being released on Oct. 15, the case is now to be released on Nov. 13, costing the team an entire month without the case. That’s more than 15 practices of 1 ½ hours with the entire group.

“I was not happy. That is an understatement,” Gondik-Anderson said about the delay, “And I’m not the only coach; there have been tons of emails from coaches all over the state that are unhappy about this.”

While plans aren’t set, there is a possibility there will have to be more practices throughout the year. These meetings will focus on learning the rules and procedures of the competition, working on rules of evidence and objections for attorneys, and acting out characters and memorizing the case for witnesses.

“I think it’s still going to be ok,” Gondik said. “So far, all of our returners have said ‘we’re not going to let this stop us from winning state this year’, so I’m feeling ok about it.”

Just as she claims, many returning mock trialers are indeed ready and raring for the challenge despite the drawback. This includes one team captain on the Varsity team, senior Heidi Gondik. Even in her former years in mock trial, she’d been setting her sights on winning the state competition. Along with many of this year’s mock trialers, this is her last chance.

“I am so ready,” Gondik said with a smile. “I wanna win.”

Mock Trial is a head to head competition between twelve schools that debate a fake case. Each team is split into attorneys and witnesses who work together to bring credibility to their side of the argument and win the case. This year, that is exactly what the Superior High School mock trial team plans to do.