Students in court
Toll Gate Mock Trial raises funds for nationals in Reno
For the first time in five years, the Toll Gate Mock Trial team is headed to the national competition, this year held in Reno, Nev., from May 9 to May 13.
The Toll Gate team reached the highest competition in the country after sweeping their entire season and playoffs, which began in February and culminated with a win over Pilgrim High School for the city crown, followed by a victory against the Wheeler School from East Providence for the state crown.
“It’s been a really great season,” said Sara Hathaway, senior at Toll Gate and captain of the mock trial team. “It’s very, very exciting.”
Hathaway is in the midst of her third season of participating in mock trial. She said the experience has netted her an internship with a practicing judge and forced her to develop better public speaking skills.
“Without mock trial I wouldn’t have had that opportunity,” she said. “For me, personally I used to not be able to publicly speak at all, but after joining mock trial it took me out of my comfort zone in the best way possible.”
Hathaway is interested in going into law and is looking to enroll at Emerson College in Boston next fall, where she wants to start a mock trial team.
Sharon Franco has served as the coach of the mock trial at Toll Gate from around 2002 to 2013. During that tenure, the team went to the national competition in 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2013. She stepped away for a few years to earn her Ph.D. before coming back this year, the same year the team rallied for a dream season and is headed back to the peak of competition.
“I am extremely proud. They worked extremely hard. They always do,” Franco said. “It’s quite a turnaround. They work, they argue the case and pick it apart and they rose to the occasion.”
“Last year we couldn’t have imagined being at this point,” Hathaway agreed. “The kids this year were extremely dedicated and hardworking.”
The team is now hoping to raise about $10,000 to cover the high cost of traveling by plane to Nevada for the competition. Their minimum goal is $8,000 and they have raised about $3,600 as of press time. They hosted a yard sale on Saturday and will be hosting an all-day bake sale at the Warwick Mall on Thursday to help raise funds.
Donations can also be sent to their online GoFundMe, which is linked on their Facebook group page and can be accessed directly at www.gofundme.com/send-toll-gate-mock-trial-nationals.
“It’s going to be very tough,” Hathaway said of the impending competition. “We only got the case April 1 and it’s two times as long as the one we’ve been working with since October. I know we all have the will and are enthusiastic about the opportunity. As long as we have fun with it, that’s how we’re looking at it.”
