The Rhinelander High School mock trial team placed second at the regional tournament Feb. 8, earning a place at the state tournament next month. It’s an opportunity the students will forgo, however, as several of the team members are committed to attending school sponsored trips to Germany and Paris the same weekend. Third place Wausau West will compete in Rhinelander’s place. Earlier in the year, RHS brought the first place trophy home from a scrimmage held in Green Bay. Senior Holly Puza was recognized as a top contender for “Best Attorney.”

The mock trial program provides high school students with an opportunity to act as attorneys and witnesses in a court case developed by the State Bar of Wisconsin. This year, the students were presented with a civil case involving the fictional drowning of a high school student at a country club. Students were required to address two alternative theories of liability, one pertaining to the country club’s alleged vicarious liability for negligent training and supervision of an employee and the other pertaining to the country club’s alleged negligent maintenance and supervision of the pool area.

The team is coached by Ali Francois, a local attorney and court commissioner. Francois was assisted this season by Ben Kubisiak, a former RHS mock trial student and current freshman at St. Norbert College.