QUEENS OF THE COURTROOM—La Reina’s championship Mock Trial team poses for a picture with Justice Steven Perren who presided at the final round in the state tournament. Photos by LISA MEGAFFIN/Special to the Acorn La Reina High School has captured the California State Mock Trial Championship for the second time in three years.

Competing against schools representing 29 counties this past Sunday in Riverside County, the litigators from the private allgirls’ school in Thousand Oaks emerged triumphant.

La Reina won preliminary rounds versus Westlake, Southwest (Imperial County), Prospect (Santa Clara County) and Talmapais (Marin County) high schools.

The finals found the La Reina defense team competing against Elk Grove High School from Sacramento County with Justice Steven Perren of the California Courts of Appeal presiding.

Senior Thea Percival won top awards for her portrayal of defense witness Chris Draper.

HOLD IT HIGH—Ryanne Bamieh hugs Hannah Young while attorney coach Jean Wentz holds the California State Mock Trial championship trophy. The team now begins prepa- rations for the national Mock Trial Tournament, May 5 to 7, in Phoenix. La Reina has earned 16 Ventura County Mock Trial titles since 1990.

Team members are seniors Janaki Balachandran, Elizabeth Epstein, Ashley Lawrence, Alyssa Mallory, Thea Percival and Laurel Rodewald; juniors Olivia Polk and Hannah Young; sophomores Katie Gerbasi, Elizabeth Hribal, Lena Melillo, Rachel Warner and Marnie Vaughan; and freshman Olivia Aulicino, Ryanne Bamieh and Nisha Srinivasa.

Team alternates are Sucheta Kadaba, Michaela Posner, Jennifer Stahle and Kathleen Sullivan. Attorney coaches are Ron Bamieh, Kendall Jones, Jean Wentz and Rick Wentz.

The team’s faculty adviser is Liz Harlacher.