Bergen Catholic Mock Trial Team Wins Bergen County Championship

Bergen Catholic High School’s Mock Trial team won its tenth Bergen County Championship in program history on Jan. 24 after defeating top-seeded Mahwah High School in the semifinal round before defeating Indian Hills in the championship final at Bergen County Justice Center in Hackensack.

The case was a civil suit in which a family was suing a school district due to an injury incurred on a school trip, according to Mock Trial team advisor Pete Coleman. Bergen Catholic was on the plaintiff side in the semi-final round with James Lowell, a senior, and Niko Paladino, a junior, serving as attorneys. Witnesses were senior Jake Keanna, senior Thomas Harte and Jack Meloro, a junior.

But in the finals, Bergen Catholic was on the defense side, with seniors James Lowell and Matt Leone as attorneys.

“Lowell set the tone with a stellar opening argument while Leone sealed the win with a well presented closing,” Coleman said. Witnesses Hanlon Lowell, a sophomore, Joe Barile, also a sophomore and Jake Keanna, senior, all performed admirably in the win, according to Coleman.

“We are happy to bring back the county championship to Bergen Catholic High School and continue its tradition of excellence,” said team captain James Lowell. “The win was the culmination of this team’s hard work and dedication.”

This marks the first Bergen County title for the Crusaders since 2010. Their total of ten county championships is the most for any school in Bergen County Mock Trial history.

Bergen Catholic will now advance to the regional portion of the 2015 Mock Trial competition in New Jersey.