It is off to national championship once again for the Lewiston High School Mock Trial Team after members earned their fourth state championship in December 2025.

They are raising money to represent Maine at the National Mock Trial Championships in May in Des Moines, Iowa.

Mock trial is a competitive high school academic activity, where every year students are given a fictional case to prepare to take to trial. The 2025 case was a criminal case alleging an adult furnished alcohol to a minor during a school graduation party.

The team won their fourth championship against Standish’s Bonny Eagle High School on Dec. 5 at the Augusta Judicial Center. They also won championships in 2018, 2022 and 2023.

“The grit and determination demonstrated by these teens is a perfect representation of the community they call home,” head coach Robert Shepard wrote in an email.

The team is made of 17 sophomores, juniors and seniors. It is a mix of races, ideas and interests, he said.

“We have students who do track and field and are some of the best runners in the state while also having students who are mainstays in the school’s theater program. Practices end up scheduled around soccer practice, swim practice, Black student union meetings, drama rehearsals, and more because these students come from a variety of backgrounds,” Shepard said.

“That is the cool part of mock trial as it brings together your jocks, nerds, and theater kids together to engage with the legal system. They are all stand-up students who not only excel academically, but are incredible young adults,” he said. 

Senior Zara Bimbi, one of several senior captains of the team, said during a mock trial competition, they are presented with a case to study thoroughly to understand the content.

“Then we need to build a case for both sides, defense and prosecution, Bimbi wrote in an email. “As defense, our job is to make sure that the defendant isn’t charged for things they might’ve not done. While the prosecution creates reasonable doubt to why the defendant is guilty. It is a very intricate process with witnesses, lawyers, crosses, as well as directs and statements. It’s as if we are actually on trial defending a real person, the third-year team member wrote.

“I have absolutely enjoyed every minute of it, competition days can be exhilarating, but very fun,” she said. “All the late-night practices and constant memorization are worth it when we get to perform on competition day. To me, I would say it comes naturally when I deliver my work, but the behind the scenes can be very stressful.”

Senior Enzo Giampaolo, another co-captain, said a mock trial competition day consists of two trials typically, and is held in a real courthouse before a real judge, and real lawyers acting as evaluators.

“We are scored (one through 10) for the performance of each role, and including witnesses there are 11 roles per side of a case,” he said. “As Zara said, we must prepare both sides of the case, and since our team is large enough each person sticks to one side. Many team members take on multiple roles. For example, this past season for the defense I did closing statements as well as a cross examination of one of the prosecution’s witnesses.”

He thinks arguing a case comes natural to him.

“I think arguing definitely comes natural for me, but presenting the evidence in a concise, persuasive manner is a skill I’m constantly working to improve. There are definitely many late nights and high cortisol days, but overall being a part of the Lewiston Mock Trial team has been very enjoyable for me the last three years.”

They have a “very talented team” with a lot of “strong personalities which can make things challenging at times, but thanks to our amazing head coach Robert Shepard, and all of our dedicated lawyer coaches, we have come together in an extremely positive way each year,” Giampaolo wrote. “We channel all of our passion into success in the courtroom. Lewiston Mock Trial is a family in many ways, and I am ultimately grateful to be a part of it!”

Shepard is a Lewiston High School graduate who competed in the mock trials as a student.

The team is assisted by four volunteer coaches: attorney Andrew Boulanger, a Lewiston High School graduate; attorney Melanie Dorn, of Lewiston; Judge Amy Dieterich, of Auburn, who has coached the team the past 11 years; and Joan Macri, a retired Lewiston High School teacher who founded the high school mock trial program in 1995. She has played a supporting role for coaches and teams behind the scenes for the past 20 years.

The team is “also indebted to those who have given countless hours of time and effort over the years to get the program to where it is today,” Shepard said. “This includes Hunter Steele, Michelle Crowley, Ron Lebel and the late Paul Dionne.”

To donate toward the team expenses to attend the national championship mail a check to Lewiston High School, 156 East Ave., Lewiston, ME 04240, care of Mock Trial.