SV students named mock trial winners

More than a dozen Seneca Valley Senior High School students were named winners in a virtual mock trial competition hosted by Penn State University Jan. 23-24.

The school’s two teams placed second and third out of 14 teams from across the state, and senior Ella Pologruto received best attorney overall out of 150 students who participated.

Team members who placed second in the competition included seniors Parker Logue, Annie Castagnero, Luke D’Ambrosio, Gargi Rane and Nick Folino, and juniors Megan Abel, Megan Bablak, David DeVyver and Paul Amado.

Team members who placed third included seniors Tori Read, Nick Hartman, Kaitlyn Moore, Emma Reynolds, Dawson Morrow and Pologruto and junior Ava Katzenell.

The two-day tournament was held over Zoom and enabled students to present a civil case based on a wrongful death lawsuit. Over the course of the weekend, students participated in four separate trials.

Pologruto was awarded as one of the best overall attorneys. For each trial, judges rank the attorneys, with the highest rank given a set number score. To win, Pologruto received 20 perfect ranks out of the four trials on both defense and plaintiff.

“The teams worked great together to develop their team’s case theory, practice objections and construct cohesive witness questions,” Brie Nassan, senior high school gifted support teacher, said. “I was so impressed at how well they handled the curveball of a virtual mock trial season. They exceeded every one of my expectations.”

Mock trial is a part of the gifted program and completed within the justice and law scenario, in which students learn the foundations of law, objections and direct and cross-examinations, among other skills.

The court case is released in November each year, and students spend two and a half full months perfecting their witness affidavits and attorney roles.

SV band, choir members advance

As the Pennsylvania Music Education Association (PMEA) moves forward with its 2020-21 virtual festivals, Seneca Valley students also continue to advance.

Band and choir students auditioned in the fall (as part of Honors Band and Honors Chorus events) to see if they were accepted to the regional level. Orchestra students were selected by director recommendation for the district level and are currently in the process of auditioning for their regional position.

The following orchestra students have made it to the district level and are awaiting results for regionals: Allison Alexander (Grade 10, Cello), Marie Fouche (Grade 10, Violin), Gretchen Kellar (Grade 10, Violin), Erin Keppler (Grade 11, Violin), Jacklyn Ko (Grade 12, Violin), Aaron Sedlak (Grade 11, Cello), Madeline Shipe (Grade 10, Bass), Nathan Smith (Grade 11, Viola) and Lindsay Walls Rivera (Grade 11, Bass).

The following band and choir students have already been accepted for the regional level and will be auditioning for All-States in the coming weeks:

Choir: Allison Alexander (Grade 10, Alto 2), Nick Folino (Grade 12, Tenor 2), Elizabeth Hixon (Grade 10, Alto 1), Leta Hixon (Grade 10, Alto 1), Trey Hixon (Grade 11, Bass 2), Colton Marley (Grade 10, Tenor 2), Anya Maschmeier (Grade 10, Soprano 1), Sarah McKinley (Grade 12, Alto 1), Alex Mortier (Grade 11, Tenor 2), Eli Peel (Grade 11, Bass 1), Greta Schmidt (Grade 11, Soprano 1), Jonah Smeltzer (Grade 11, Tenor 1), Izzy Vescio (Grade 12, Alto 2) and Dorothy Vogel (Grade 10, Alto 2).

Band: Connor Allen (Grade 11, Trumpet), Alaina Althouse (Grade 11, French Horn), Paul Amado (Grade 11, Trombone), Ally Buchek (Grade 12, Clarinet), Luke Choban (Grade 12, Tuba), Emma Conrad (Grade 11, Alto Sax), Rebekah Heltzell (Grade 11, Bass Clarinet), Peter Ko (Grade 10, Alto Sax), Julian Lagoon (Grade 11, Percussion), Katelyn Livorse (Grade 11, Trombone), Kyra Martino (Grade 12, French Horn), Victor Myrna (Grade 11, Oboe), Alex Owen (Grade 12, Bass Clarinet), Sreya Padamati (Grade 11, Tenor Sax), Ashleigh Patterson (Grade 12, Clarinet), Liz Salgado (Grade 12, Flute), Jackson Scherzer (Grade 11, Bari Sax), Daniel Simoes (Grade 11, Trumpet), Jonah Smeltzer (Grade 11, Percussion), Lizzie Sylves (Grade 12, Bassoon), Roy Tilton (Grade 10, Trombone), Josie Walter (Grade 12, Flute), Mark Wimer (Grade 11, Euphonium), Renhan Xu (Grade 12, Clarinet) and Haihan Xu (Grade 10, Trumpet).