‘ All Rise ’ and Celebrate
Mock Trial Team Finishes Ninth in the Nation , Toiya Smith Named Most Outstanding Attorney Written by Megan Middleton
A lot can happen in three years .
Just ask Crowley ISD law enforcement teacher Markeith West , whose high school mock trial team has soared to the top of not only state but national competitions , in just three years of existence .
The team earned one of two spots in Texas to qualify for the YMCA ’ s Youth and Government National Judicial Competition , which took place in August in Chicago . There , the team placed ninth of 30 teams . In addition , student attorney Toiya Smith was one of only four in the nation to be named Most Outstanding Attorney .
Smith , a North Crowley High School graduate , is now a freshman pre-law student at Dillard University in Louisiana . It was her interest in the court system as a high school sophomore that sparked West to create the mock trial team .
“ It really started because of her ,” West said . “ We knew she had an exceptional talent , so we encouraged her . And her junior year , and especially her senior year , she really just took off .”
To see the team grow from just an idea to now a national competitor , “ It ’ s monumental ,” Smith said .
“ I can ’ t think of a way to describe how happy it makes me ,” she said . “ It surpassed what I expected .”
West is proud of all the team members who competed nationally .
“ You dream you can do that , but to actually see it happen , it ’ s like , wow , it really happened ,” West said .
The road to the team ’ s first national contest was paved with hard work and hours of practice , including during the summer .
“ Our summer was dedicated to mock trial ,” said Christina Gonzales , also an attorney on the team .
Amaya Ronczyk , a team member who served in the witness role , added , “ But it was worth it .”
Two professional attorneys from the Dallas-Fort Worth area volunteered their time to work with CISD team members to prepare them for national , state and regional competitions . Matthew Jackson and Elan Longstreet assisted during the school year and in the summer , even traveling to Chicago with the team .
“ Enough can ’ t be said about the partnership with those members of the community who came out to help the students ,” West said .
2016-17 Crowley ISD Mock Trial Team
• Attorney Toiya Smith
• Attorney Christina Gonzales
• Witness Amaya Ronczyk
• Witness Everett Chace
• Witness Tionne Wilson
• Bailiff Ty ’ Reke Goodman-Harris
Gonzales said the attorney volunteers helped students perfect and present their arguments .
Jeff Thomas , district executive director of the Fort Worth YMCA , praised the volunteer attorneys working with the CISD team as well as West for his work .
Making it all the way to the national competition is rare for a team , Thomas said . In his more than a decade of experience with YMCA Youth and Government , he has never had a team go to nationals — until now .
“ This group is only three years old ,” he said . “ To go to nationals , that speaks volumes of the caliber of students participating and the volunteers leading that program .”
Participating in mock trial helps expose students to the court system as a potential career path , and , for some , has helped boost their confidence , students said .
Most of the students on the team want to pursue a career in the courts , or a related field . Smith has already earned a place on her college mock trial team .
“ They are really driven to be in that career field ,” West said . “ They know what they want to do , and they want to work hard at it .”
20 CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS | Fall 2017