BRICK – The case of Brick Memorial High School vs. MATES was expertly debated on all sides, and after hours of testimony, the verdict for the Ocean County Mock Trial was finally delivered at the historic courthouse in downtown Toms River.
The competition saw the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science (MATES) defeat Brick Memorial by what was described by judges Francis R. Hodgson JR and Craig L. Wellerson as “the slimmest of margins.”
MATES and Brick Memorial are no stranger to facing each other in the finals, as Brick Memorial took down MATES in the Ocean County Finals last year to earn their first county title since 2016.
Every year, about a month after the high school year starts, the New Jersey State Bar drops a workbook detailing a criminal or civil case. The type of case alternates every year.
This year’s criminal case, State of New Jersey v. Devon Ransom, deals with “swatting.” Swatting is when someone intentionally reports a fake emergency, causing armed police to respond when there’s no real danger. In this hypothetical case, the swatting incident occurred at a coffee shop.
Teams are given a statement of facts, stipulations, witness statements and exhibits, to read through and form both sides of the argument. Each county holds a competition to declare a county champion.
In this matchup, MATES was the prosecution while Brick Memorial was the defense.
Brick Memorial was undefeated heading into their matchup with MATES, earning preliminary wins over Brick Township and Point Boro, and then going on to beat Jackson in the county semi-finals.
In their matchup against Jackson to get to the county finals, Sofia Salsa and Miranda Maneiro were the team’s prosecution lawyers while Emma Naples, Peyton Carp, and Carter Lane were the defense.
In their mock trial against MATES, Taty Williams and Lilah Breen were Brick Memorial’s defense lawyers while Myanah Dickson, Megan Antonelli, Luiza Reis were the witnesses.
Although the defendant was ultimately found not guilty by the jury, the judges ultimately decided to declare MATES the winner of the contest.
After the trial was over, both judges provided their own special critiques about how each team can improve heading into what comes next.
Even though the result was not what Brick Memorial wanted, the team showed a lot of promise for next year.
“As the advisor and coach of this Mock Trial team, I could not be more proud of the work they have put in this season,” said Brick Memorial Head Coach Diana Corde-Leone. “These students have practiced four times a week, three hours at a time, all while maintaining an outstanding academic portfolio – a true testament to their discipline, commitment, and love for the craft. They represent Brick Memorial with integrity, confidence, and heart in everything they do.
“Last night was a powerful reminder of just how special this team is. Every witness who took the stand was a freshman, and they held their own against a seasoned team – calm, composed, and unfazed by cross-examination. Not a single moment of hesitation. That level of confidence doesn’t happen by accident; it is earned through countless hours of preparation and trust in one another. And the lawyers, wow. They picked apart every prosecution witness, calmly and methodically poking holes where it mattered most. Their questioning was sharp, intentional, and confident. When it came time for objections, they beautifully and powerfully shook opposing counsel, standing their ground with poise well beyond their years,” she said.
“We are only losing one student to graduation this year, which means this team is just getting started,” Corde-Leone said. “The foundation has been set, the fire is lit, and the future is incredibly bright. I am beyond proud to call this team my own and cannot wait to watch them continue to grow stronger together.”
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