Mock Trial became county champions Tuesday, ranking first place of 136 schools at the Los Angeles County Mock Trial finals. The team will be advancing to the state competition in March.

The team competed against Peninsula High School in the finals, who received second place. Results were announced at an award ceremony Tuesday evening.

Nadia Rahman ’15 received an individual award for Outstanding Prosecution Pretrial Attorney. All members received medals and received a plaque as a whole.

“I think the most incredible thing the team has accomplished this year isn’t winning the county finals,” Rahman said. “It’s improving so greatly over the course of the competition. Every person on the team put in a huge amount of effort into preparing for the trials.”

The team advanced to the Los Angeles County finals after beating Chaminade High School in the semifinals Nov. 24.

Mock Trial also advanced to state finals back in 2006.

Students prosecuted in a trial that will be continued in the finals. The defendant in the fictitious case is an art student named Evan Shem who worked as a summer intern for art professor Marty McCulloch. McCulloch accuses Shem of stealing his painting and replacing it with a replica.

Sebastian Grande ’16 plays both the McCulloch and Shem, following the witness statements given at the start of the case. Rahman plays TM Little, an art dealer on the defendant’s side.

After each case, students vote for a MVP. The team members include Harold Chong‎ ’16, Parker Chusid‎ ’15, Megan Cohen‎ ’17, David Goldberg‎ ’15, Grande‎, Enya Huang‎ ’15, Alexander Kihiczak‎ ’16, Tiffany Kim‎ ’17, Grant Pecheck‎ ’15, Rahman‎, Skylar Reiff‎ ’15, Timothy Song ’15 and Alec Winshel‎ ’16.

The team advanced over last year’s champions, Louisville High School, Nov. 17.

History and government teacher David Waterhouse coaches Mock Trial this year, along with lawyers Alan Croll and Bobbie Kumetz.

“Dr. Waterhouse started out as an adviser and coordinator, but over the past few weeks he’s begun taking on the role of coach,” Rahman said. “He also brings us Milano cookies every competition. We all really like Milano cookies. He’s definitely a very distinctive part of the team.”