For a third year since 1998, Mount Carmel School has once again won the CNMI Mock Trial Championships.

This year, Mock Trial Knights consisted of 23 students, but with only 8 starters. The starter team consisted of 3 attorneys, Maria Balajadia, Geza Baka and Hazel Doctor and witnesses Keno San Pablo as Detective Jordan Cook and Dr. Guadalupe Nelson, Anastasia Schweiger as Steph Sablan and Alex Lee, Ryan Ortizo as Taylor Guerrero and Janela Revilla as Harley Hofschneider with Kevin Bautista as the fourth attorney and time keeper.

Our Knights competed in three rounds on Friday, February 26, 2010 along with all the competing schools. They competed against Tinian High School as the prosecution, Grace Christian Academy as defense and Calvary Christian Academy as defense once again. The Knights held their ground as attorneys and witnesses every time they questioned or were questioned. acking them up with support were students from Mount Carmel School’s AP US Government class who watched during the first and second round.

After three rounds of rigorous examinations and cross-examinations, a banquet was held at Fiesta’s Hibiscus Hall at the Fiesta Resort & Spa where winners and two top teams were announced. Anastasia Schweiger garnered the Best Witness Award. The top two teams were Mount Carmel School and Marianas Baptist Academy.

The following day, Saturday, February 27, 2010, the Mock Trial Championship Round took place in the Supreme Court at 8:30am. The two teams fired back and did a well-matched job. But in the end, one team had to rise as the winner. Suspense built up as the final verdict of Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands v. Harley Hofschneider was about to be announced.

The entire Mock Trial Knights team along with their coaches jumped up and screamed, overjoyed with their accomplishment. A total of 9 jurors voted and MCS won with 6 votes against 3. Their success wouldn't be without coaches Attorneys Joe Taijeron and Ed Buckingham, Mr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero and Mr. Rosiky Camacho.

The Mount Carmel School’s Mock Trial team will represent the Northern Mariana Islands at the 2010 National High School Mock Trial Championship competition in May in Pennsylvania and henceforth will be referred to as TEAM NMI.