Arguably the Best, La Reina Wins Again at Mock Trial

For the second year in a row, La Reina High School has won the annual Ventura County Mock Trial competition.

The winners were announced Friday after the final rounds at the Ventura Hall of Justice. Westlake High placed second, Buena High finished third and Camarillo High fourth.

In Mock Trial, students portray lawyers, witnesses and bailiffs as they argue a make-believe criminal case. This year the case involved a homicide prosecution and issues of child mistreatment.

La Reina, an all-girls Catholic secondary school in Thousand Oaks, has captured the county title nine times in the past 16 years.

Assistant Principal Stan Hirsch said his students were ahead in the preliminary rounds and held onto their lead despite tough competition from the other three schools, which were in the finals last year as well.

“I was extremely impressed with the level of competition,” Hirsch said. “We have a really young team, and the girls rose to the occasion.”

There are about 18 girls on La Reina’s team and, as at other schools, they began preparing for the annual competition last fall, Hirsch said. The team practiced every weekend, learning the ropes from local attorneys.

Educators and lawyers say Mock Trial teaches students valuable skills not always learned in the classroom, such as poise, public speaking and how to think on their feet.

La Reina will head to the state finals in Riverside on March 30.