Suffolk Reporter

The William Floyd Middle School Mock Trial team recently competed at the Western Suffolk BOCES Long Island Mock Trial Tournament. The event took place at Suffolk County Community College’s Ammerman campus. This year's challenge involved preparing a case around a potential assault scenario, using evidence and witness testimonies.

The team faced off against other schools, including Brentwood and Massapequa, and drew commendation from judges for their strategic approach and preparation. In particular, the defense and plaintiff teams from William Floyd Middle School received high praise for their efforts.

Leading the defense team were eighth graders Gianna Formato, Isabella Maurer, and Sean Richardson. Star witnesses for the defense were Alexia Fontanez, Alisson Romero, and detective Olivia Weiss. The plaintiff's side was represented by attorneys Kenlyn Mule, An Nguyen, and Kayleigh Scheifele, with witnesses Olivia Chen, Derek DeMuria, and Kejsi Nexhi.

Mr. Tolksdorf, a team advisor, noted the dedication of the students, saying, “It was exciting to listen to the students buzzing about legal tactics they hoped to try.” This dedication was evident during the tournament, with Isabella Maurer being praised for her handling of photographic exhibits, and Gianna Formato effectively applying legal principles.

On the plaintiff side, An Nguyen and Kayleigh Scheifele effectively managed cross-examinations, while Kenlyn Mule delivered a strong closing statement. The preparation of the team, overseen by advisors Taylor Pierce and Paul Tolksdorf, involved studying various forms of evidence and refining their strategic approach.

Ms. Pierce commented on the students' dedication, stating, “Every witness on our team accomplished this,” referring to the memorization and presentation of their roles. Mr. Tolksdorf added, “We started the year as sixth graders, seventh graders and eighth graders attempting to learn what Mock Trial was, but when we entered that court room on Wednesday, it was evident we had become a lean, mean trial machine.”

The team's performance drew attention and appreciation from those present, reflecting months of preparation. The effort of the students both in and out of prominent roles was commended in the final remarks congratulating the participants.