Butler's mock trial team advances to state contest
The mock trial students are heading to Harrisburg.
For the past eight years, the Butler School District's mock trial team won the county-level tournament and advanced to the district competition, only to see Beaver County teams shut them out of advancing any further. They've won their county tournament for 11 years straight, but only once eight years ago managed to win the district competition.
This year, however, the drought ended with a closely clinched victory Monday night. The high school team learned Wednesday that it will not participate in a regional competition, but instead head straight to the state-level contest in late March.
The team's head coach, history teacher David Cooper, said he couldn't believe they'd done it.
“I had tears in my eyes,” Cooper said.
Butler students took on the defense side of the case and faced off against prosecutors from Quigley Catholic High School. It was a real battle: a tie in regular scoring was broken by a final decision from Judge Kelley Streib, according to Cooper.
“They did things I had never seen before,” Cooper said. “You don't expect them to be able to react to things that are strange or that we didn't practice. But they just did it. These kids reacted with poise.”
Outside of the courtroom, Monday's trial arrived during a tumultuous time for the team. One of the team's star attorneys, Chloe Paulisick, lost her grandfather over the weekend. Gerald “Jerry” Volchko, 74, died Saturday, leaving deep wounds for both Chloe and her mother, Gerri Paulisick, the team's attorney sponsor, a long-term coach and Volchko's daughter.
The Paulisicks were going to host a final practice party at their home Sunday night, but it was canceled. Gerri told Chloe she didn't have to compete Monday night, but her daughter wasn't having it.
“She was unshakable,” Gerri said. “She said dad would have wanted it. It took my breath away.”
Her daughter, she said, “went in with nerves of steel and didn't crack once.”
Gerri described the moment they won as shocking.
“We had been there so many times before,” she said. “We were bracing for them to say, 'The commonwealth won.' When they said 'defense,' I just heard a collective gasp.”
Chloe said she saw her mom cry the moment they won.
“We've always gotten to this point, but we could never get past it,” Chloe said. “All the work paid off. In this terrible, awful situation, we still came out winning.”
Emma Kappler, a senior on the team, told Gerri they had won it for her. Emma said the team's spirits have been high since returning to class.
“We see each other in the hall and just smile,” Emma said. “We all know what it feels like to win districts now.”
She said she was pleased the final round was so challenging, and she expects similar difficulties in state trials.
“Mr. Cooper says we have Steeler-itis,” Emma said. “We play down to the team we go against.”
Sam Thoma, a team junior, said she's hopeful the team will do well at the state competition.
“With our dynamic and our team this year, I think we have a real shot,” Sam said.
Lea Codispot, another junior, described the team as a family. “Winning together was just really special for all of us,” Lea said.
The state competition is March 29 and 30.
