Agathos Classical School’s inaugural team placed sixth in the Tennessee Bar Association’s 36th annual mock trial championship in Nashville, March 18-19. Sixteen high school teams reached the state championship by winning district competitions in which they played the roles of attorneys and witnesses. Each team represented both the prosecution and the defense in a fictitious case developed by the TBA’s Young Lawyers Division.
Agathos’ entire student body lined up to wave and cheer as the Mock Trial team left campus for State. After four rounds of intense competition over two days, an awards ceremony was held in the ballroom of the downtown Doubletree Hotel. Two Agathos students won individual recognition. Freshman attorney Josiah Burns was named MVP and sophomore Luke Worsham was honored with 2nd Best Attorney for the Plaintiff.
The team was thrilled with their debut performance and quick to credit others. “Just five months ago, Cory Ricci, one of our attorney coaches, taught us what a leading question is. Now, we’re sixth in the state,” observed Worsham. “It really is a testament to both God’s blessings and guidance of our team” and to our coaches. “We wouldn’t have won anything without their counseling and guidance.”
Coach Whatley couldn’t be more proud. “There were schools in the competition that were literally one hundred times the size of ours. These students, all very young, did more and went further than anyone thought they could. We are so proud of them and looking forward to making a run for the state title next year.”
Montgomery Bell Academy won the State Mock Trial Championship over second place Chattanooga Southeast Tennessee Home Education Association (CSTHEA.) The following schools also participated at this year’s state competition: Unicoi County High School, Erwin, Jefferson Co. High School, Dandridge, Clinton High School, Clinton, McCallie School, Chattanooga, Beech High School, Hendersonville, Pope John Paul II, Hendersonville, Eagleville High School, Eagleville, Harpeth Hall, Nashville, Ravenwood High School, Brentwood, Dyersburg High School, Dyersburg, Home Life Academy, Jackson, St. Mary’s Episcopal School, Memphis, and White Station High School, Memphis.
Agathos Mock Trial Team (left to right): Coach Jason Whatley, Coach Cory Ricci, Samuel Whatley, Micah Willoughby, Matthew Whatley, Luke Worsham, Jake Trainor, Ethan Seago, Josiah Burns, Luke Epley, Adriana Baena, & Advisor Grant Kelley.