Sharon Mock Trial is back at the top.
This March, the team secured a Top 4 finish in the Massachusetts Mock Trial State Tournament and ended their season with a 6–1 record. The victory marks the first time since 2021 that the Eagles have been semifinalists in the tournament.
Mock Trial is a team competition where students act as attorneys and witnesses in a simulated court case. “It’s a combination of acting, public speaking, and debate that immerses participants in the legal world,” co-captain Ben Wulf explained. “It gives students the opportunity to apply their debate and performance skills to real-world scenarios.”
For the Legal Eagles, who carry two state championships under their belt, the journey to reclaiming their title as one of the best in Massachusetts hasn’t been easy. Just a year ago, Sharon Mock Trial placed first in its region and qualified for the 2024 Massachusetts Bar Association Mock Trial Tournament, but fell to Franklin High School in the first round of the tournament by a single point.
That loss, however, assured co-captain Nasiba Alikulova of the team’s talent and potential. “Knowing that we made it that far with a lot of rookies on the team made me confident that we were going to make it far” this year, Alikulova recalled.
This year, the Eagles reached their goal, qualifying again and becoming semifinalists in the 2025 Mass Bar State Tournament.
To qualify alone, Sharon had to defeat high school teams from Holliston, Walpole, and Medfield in regional preliminary trials. Then, they emerged triumphant in nail-biting rounds against the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion School (93-92) and Westford High School (85-77) in their first two rounds of the tournament. These two victories led them to the quarterfinal rounds at the John Joseph Moakley Courthouse, the official courthouse for the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
“I was so proud of us,” co-captain Sydney Mitchell said. “I knew how important it was to go to this federal courthouse, and as a team, we qualified for a trial there.”
According to club advisor Ms. Tanya Perkins, arriving at the renowned courthouse was the culmination of the Mock Trial team’s dedication and practice. From October to March, the team practiced multiple times a week, sometimes every day, to familiarize themselves with their case. Members spent hours poring over everything from witness affidavits to courtroom rules and procedure. “Students had to do a ton of work,” Perkins said.
Perkins also attributed the team’s success to an influx of new talent. “We used new membership to deepen and expand our talent pool,” she explained. “That helped us go farther in the tournament.”
At the Moakley Courthouse, the Legal Eagles defeated Nauset High School before their final loss in the state semifinals to the Noble and Greenough School, a round that was decided by a single tiebreaker point. The Eagles’ outstanding playoff run cemented Sharon’s mock trial program as one of the best in Massachusetts.
Despite the narrow loss, Alikulova is appreciative of the team that helped forge such a memorable season. “I was so grateful to be surrounded by a team that had truly earned their spot,” she said. “[The] sense of community we developed was definitely my favorite memory.”
At the conclusion of the 2025 season, Mitchell has high hopes for the years ahead. “From these past years, we’re going on an upward trajectory,” she said. “I definitely believe in our chances of winning, I’m interested in continuing it next year, and I believe we can achieve it.”
