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The Gray Stone Day School Mock Trial team competed in the 31st annual North Carolina Advocates for Justice Mock Trial regional competition on Feb. 4 in Gastonia and Salisbury. Gray Stone Day School had two teams among the 72 from across the state to participate in the competition.

The NC Mock Trial program, formerly known as the Carolina Center for Civic Education, is a nonprofit organization that teaches high school students about the justice system involving students portraying as lawyers and witnesses. This hands-on learning activity prepares students to gain the civic understanding, analytical reasoning and communication skills in a simulated trial setting.

The Gray Stone Garnet Team finished second in the Gastonia region.

The Garnet Team includes Albert Saysombath, Hunter Josey, Grace Peterson, Ritika Ravikumar, Kinley Burleson Matayah Grubbs, Olivia Marcoccia and Donovan Tucker. Other team members are Melah Morton, Kensi Bell, Sarah Van Horn, Connor Towns, Amy Gonzalez-Hernandez, Alex Kraycirik, Anthony Grimes, Bladen Goodman and Brinley Goodman.

“I am extremely proud of these students who have spent over six hours a week since August in preparation for a single day’s competition,” said Olivia Petersen, mock trial team advisor. “For a team with very few seniors, they did an incredible job.”