(EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT – January 29, 2025) — El Paso High School’s Mock Trial Team is heading to Dallas, Texas after securing the Region 19 Mock Trial Championship. The victory earns them a coveted spot at the 46th Annual Texas High School Mock Trial Competition on March 7-8, where they will compete against the best teams in the state.
“The District Attorney’s Office was very pleased to have hosted this year’s competition in conjunction with our longstanding partnership with the El Paso Young Lawyers Association,” DA James Montoya said. “The hard work all of the teams put into their practice and preparation was evident and I am certain that El Paso High will represent our community with excellence.”
The two-day competition at the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse brought together nine high schools from across the region, where students showcased their legal knowledge, critical thinking, and advocacy skills. The competition required students to analyze case files, develop legal strategies, and prepare both prosecution and defense arguments.
For El Paso High sophomore Leila Untereker, the win is a reflection of the team’s dedication. “We put in a lot of work, and we spent so many hours going through this case and practicing even during our break,” Untereker said. “It’s really exciting and validating to win.”
In preparation for the competition, the winning team dedicated 10 to 20 hours per week for their case, often practicing on weekends, holidays, and even over winter break to perfect their arguments.
Senior Keller May, who has been part of the program since last year, reflected on the commitment it took to reach this point. “It’s just great seeing all of our work come together,” May said. “There’s a lot of public speaking involved, and that’s one of the best things I’m taking away from this club after I graduate from high school.”
The final round saw El Paso High School go head-to-head against Northwest Early College High School before a panel of distinguished judges: Judge Lyda Ness Garcia (383rd District Court), Judge Sam Medrano (409th District Court), and Judge Linda S. Perez (County Criminal Court at Law #1). In a split decision, El Paso High emerged victorious.
This will be El Paso High School’s second consecutive trip to state, and the team is determined to make the most of it. Sophomore Camila Gutierrez sees it as an opportunity for growth. “We got validation for all our hard work, and now we know we’re good enough to compete at state with these other amazing teams,” Gutierrez said. “Last time, we learned there’s a different set of rules between regionals and state, and this time, we’ll be ready.”
Coach Dawn Zumar believes the team has what it takes to succeed. “I think this team knows what to bring to the table this time around, and they have the potential to win and go on to nationals,” Zumar said. “We love knowing that El Paso ISD has our back, and we plan on representing El Paso well.”
While El Paso High School secured the championship, several El Paso ISD schools also made an impact at the competition:
• Austin High School’s Joshua Ramos earned Best Advocate for his outstanding performance as an attorney.
• Franklin High School’s Skylar Fooladi was named Best Classroom Artist for her courtroom sketch.
• Coronado High School also had a strong showing, demonstrating impressive legal knowledge and teamwork.
Beyond mock trial, these students have big plans. Keller May plans to pursue engineering, Camila Gutierrez is aiming for a career in medicine, and Leila Untereker is considering law among her future possibilities.
The El Paso High team is also grateful for their mentors and legal professionals who have helped them prepare for competition.
Best of luck to the El Paso High School Tigers as they take on the best in Texas!
(Photos courtesy of El Paso District Attorney's Office)