Mock Trial is an activity run through the Minnesota State Bar Association and every year a new case is set out for teams across Minnesota to compete with. This year’s fictional case is a criminal case about a printing company called Smiley Incorporated. The company was charged with illegally dumping hazardous waste into a river. The Huskies have to prove that it was done illegally as the prosecution or look at it through the plaintiff’s side. 

Senior captain Aubri Werk said, “As a captain, I really try to help the younger kids learn the process of preparing for the case and knowing what to do. I try to make sure they feel confident and are excited at the same time.” 

The Huskies season started in October, and they began competing after Christmas. They get to compete through four rounds and advance to an additional round and possibly the state tournament the more they win their case against the other schools. 

Their first round was against Albert Lea which ended in a split ballet decision causing them to lose. Round two was against Watertown-Mayer which they ended up winning. They lost round three against Northfield but won the fourth round against Luverne. One of the Huskies teams won two trials and lost two trials and could not advance. 

OHS Mock Trial adviser Laura Epland said, “I don’t think we’re in the top to advance further but it is, what it is. We went to state for the past two years, we’re in a little bit of a rebuilding year, and we lost a lot of our team as seniors last year.”

Although it was not the ending that they were expecting as a team, they worked hard and well together. Mock Trial had many new members this year. 

Epland said, “It is a good teamwork activity, you can’t just do this by yourself, you are in it as a team.”

The Huskies’ season ended after their round with Luverne on Wednesday, Feb 7.