Twenty-three (23) Haywood High School students participated in the Region II High School Mock Trial competition at the Jackson-Madison County Criminal Justice Center on February 25, 2012. Students were given case materials in November concerning a civil arson suit. Haywood’s White Team and Purple Team have spent countless hours preparing for this competition during the past few months.

Both teams performed exceptionally well in the fire two rounds of the competition.  Haywood’s Purple team advanced to the final round of the competition, but lost to Dyersburg in a tight contest. For the second year in a row, Haywood students won three of the four individual awards at the competition. Emily Pugh won Best Defense Witness, Reeves Garrett won Best Plaintiff Attorney, and Jay Clinton won Best Plaintiff Witness.  Jay Clinton has won four individual awards in the past three years.

Haywood’s Purple team consisted of student lawyers Alycia Johns, Reeves Garrett, Seth Tillman, Will Clinton, Chionte McGhee, and Molly McAdams. The Purple team witnesses were portrayed by Jay Clinton (two parts), Devin Gibbs, Matthew Hooper, Elesha Powell, and Kyle Sills.

Haywood’s White team consisted of student lawyers Emma Baumheckel, J.P. Barden, Markia Darby, Nikki Cummins, Ricarnicea Johnson, and Sara Rodriguez. The White team witnesses were portrayed by Walker Thornton, Pamela Castro, Mireya Pulido, Lauren Markowski, Emily Pugh, and Amanda Lopez.