Oak Park High School’s Mock Trial team has begun to prepare themselves for another competition year and is ready to start the season off with a bang. 

To ensure success during their approaching competition season, students are getting ready early on. They hold practices twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 3:45 p.m to 5:15 p.m. 

“[Mock Trial] is a student-run program, so [the captains] create presentations, make quizzes, grade and teach everyone,” senior and co-Captain Anvitha Voruganti said. 

Students have already started looking at the new topic, which they will continue to analyze over the next few months.

“I’m looking forward to this new case, and we just got our case brief which looks really interesting,” junior Nidhi Dhunaka wrote to the Talon. 

As for the upcoming year, students are motivated to put forth their best efforts and produce a win at their regional and state tournaments. Senior Co-Captain Marcello Hamidi says his goal for the team this year is for “both teams make it to the top 8 and one of them make it to the state championship.”

“My hopes for this year are for us to exceed, do our very best at competitions, and for us to continue to grow close as a team while also improving our skills,” senior and team manager Rachel Newman wrote to the Talon. 

Many students also have their own personal goals for the season that they hope to achieve.

“For me, I want to push myself out of my comfort zone and try something different this year,” Dhunaka wrote. “My favorite part about Mock Trial and competition is definitely being part of a team. I’ve made so many important relationships and it’s been a huge part of my life.”