NEWS RELEASE
March 29, 2024 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Clifton High School Mock Trial Team Triumphs as 2024 New Jersey State Champions
Clifton High School's Mock Trial team has secured a remarkable victory, emerging as the 2024 New Jersey State Champions. The team's journey to this prestigious title has been marked by dedication, skill, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
Since January, the Clifton High School Mock Trial team, under the guidance of advisor Harry Van Der Hey, has demonstrated exceptional talent and commitment, consistently raising the bar with each competition. Their remarkable achievements include a series of notable successes:
- Placing 6th out of 40 teams at the Empire Mock Trial Spring League 2023.
- Jenna Alnatur's outstanding performance at Top Mock in July, earning a Red Card and an invitation to the Gladiator 1 v1 Mock Trial Tournament.
- Securing 1st place at the Yale Bulldog Invitational in September 2023, with Jenna Alnatur receiving the Best Attorney overall award and Omar Ali honored with the Best Witness Award.
- Participating in the Harvard University Mock Trial Workshop, hosted by esteemed CHS alumna Jessica Alexander.
- Achieving a commendable 20th place out of 40 teams at the Empire Mock Trial World Championships, where Jenna Alnatur was recognized as the 4th Best High School Attorney in the World and Milena Bednarcyzk received the Best Witness award.
- Clinching victories in the 2023/2024 Vincent J Apruzzese High School Mock Trial competition, culminating in the Passaic County Championship win against PCTI, and triumphing in the Northern Region Semi-Final Round against Livingston and the Northern Regional Final against Park Ridge, earning the title of Northern Region Champs.
- Veronica David, Vice President of the Mock Trial team, also earned a spot in the World Championship Gladiator 1 v1 tournament, where only the top 40 in the world are accepted. She was accepted on February 28, 2024, for this upcoming summer.
- The Clifton High School Mock Trial team's journey reached its pinnacle at the State Final against Mainland Regional High School, where they showcased their legal acumen in front of esteemed judges, including NJ Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner and Judge Clark.
In reflecting on this momentous victory, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Danny A. Robertozzi expressed immense pride in the team's achievements, stating, "The Clifton High School Mock Trial team's dedication and perseverance have brought great honor to our school community. Their success is a testament to their hard work and the exceptional guidance provided by their advisor and mentors."
Tom Kuehn, History Department Supervisor, described the victory not only as a testament to their academic prowess but also as a significant achievement that adds a feather to the district's cap.
As the Clifton High School Mock Trial team prepares to represent New Jersey at the national level, they carry with them the support and admiration of their school, community, and all those who have witnessed their extraordinary journey.
Seated Left to Right: Elif Yurtseven, Patrisia Baroud (Captain), Jenna Alnatur. Standing L to R: Charles Beam, Veronica David, Jenna Saleh Omar Ali, Milena Bednarczyk
Left to right: Jenna Alnatur, Milena Bednarczyk, Patrisia Baroud (captain), Jenna Saleh, Veronica David, Elif Yurtseven, Omar Ali, seated Charles Beam
