After months of careful preparation the Cypress Mock Trial team traveled to the Lee County Justice Center to take part in the district competition on Feb. 6 and 7. As part of the Mock Trial program, students receive a case packet and use it to prepare for a simulated trial against other school teams. This year’s case was a criminal case of conspiracy to commit forgery, fraud, and grand theft.

Led by Mrs. Camp and their attorney coaches, Dr. Frank Talty and Mrs. Patty Talty, the team was determined to avenge their 5th place finish from last year and had their sights set on the finals. On the first day, they defeated Cape and Gateway to secure a spot in the semifinals. On Friday, they took on Canterbury in the semis and won, making it back to the finals for the first time since 2023.

In the end, they came out in second place, with Fort Myers High School winning the jury over 2-1. But though they did not achieve their goal of a district championship and a spot in the regionals, the team won the Professionalism Award for the second time in a row. Junior Brigitte Malikakis was also recognized and awarded Best Prosecution Witness for the second year in a row. She has been a member of the team since her freshman year and said of the experience, “This club has challenged and developed basically every academic skill you could ever need.”

The team this year also welcomed many new faces such as sophomore Jayden Davis, who said, “This year has taught me a lot, not just about law but also about how I can improve myself as a writer and speaker.“

When asked about her team’s performance this year, Mrs. Camp said, “I’m so beyond proud of this year’s team. They worked unbelievably hard, meeting twice a week and even on Saturday to prepare. This was the best showing we’ve had in my six years of coaching and I can’t wait for next year. The team will be packed with experienced seniors and we are determined to make it all the way.”