TWO VERY DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES, HEADED TO THE SAME PLACE

BY CHEYENNE CASTELLO

Although an unlikely duo, North Royalton High School's wrestling and mock trial teams share a common thread–they both earned a trip to the state finals.

The wrestling team, led by Mr. Folk, has had a fantastic run since the late 1960s with determined wrestlers fighting their way to the top. Once again, the team's hard work and dedication paid off as they secured a spot in the state championships. Kyle Sandborn, Mannix Wasco, and Sophia Antonio all made the fanous trip to the exclusive tournament. Ohio is known for being one of the most difficult states in the U.S. for accepting qualifiers, but North Royalton has succeeded for over fifty years! Mr. Folk said, “Any time you can get wrestlers down to the state tournament to represent your school, it's a great accomplishment for the program and the community. I am very proud of our effort, and proud of the way our wrestlers conducted themselves and represented the city of North Royalton.”

Although they didn’t compete on a mat, they did hit hard in the courtroom. Originally an experimentation club, the mock trial team led by Miss Sladky has also had an impressive season. The team has been competing against other high schools in the region and has won every trial they've participated in. The team's legal knowledge and public speaking skills have impressed the judges and helped them secure a spot in the state championships. Miss Sladky said that as soon as they had their first meeting, they were already preparing for the long run. The participants have months to memorize a “mock trial” of something they could witness in their lifetime. Miss Sladky said, “Mock trial is a club like no other because you are treated like real attorneys and witnesses in real courtrooms. Students work one on one with an attorney to help build their individual roles. Everything about Mock Trial is authentic, and the skills you build can't be gained in any other class or club.”

Both teams have worked incredibly hard to get to this point, and the entire North Royalton community is proud of their accomplishments.