MMA Gold Mock Trial Continues its Winning Ways

On Thursday, February 23, Merion Mercy Academy’s Gold Mock Trial team won the Delaware County District Championship by defeating Ridley High School. In the annual competition run by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the team went undefeated in the preliminary rounds and advanced to district playoffs, where they beat the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur. This is the 10th year in a row that Merion Mercy has been either co-champion or champion of Delaware County.

The Gold team is coached by attorney John Dougherty, Esq. partner of Gerolamo, McNulty Divis & Lewbart, P.C. and husband of Jackie Caserta '03. Dean of Students and Mock Trial Coordinator Paul Clementi, says, "John's commitment to our team over the past seven years has been incredible. The success of our program is directly attributed to him." 

The team now advances to the regional finals on March 15 with the chance to advance to the state tournament for the third year in a row.

Earlier in the season, the Gold team competed at the University of Pennsylvania Mock Trial competition where Sylvia Barnes ‘23 won a top attorney and Hailey Hendricks ‘24 won a best witness award. Out of over 420 competing in the competition, only 12 attorney and witness awards were presented.

Gold Team

Sylvia Barnes ‘23

Ashley Ciampitti ‘23

Cara Comey ‘23

Kiera Everly ‘24

Olivia Foran ‘23

Hailey Hendricks ‘24

Makayla Johnson ‘23

Eve Laurito ‘25

Catherine McDonald ‘23

Mairead McGill ‘25

Tessa Purcell ‘23

Simone Waheed ‘23

Justine Weng ‘25

Morgan Wolfe ‘23

Junior Varsity Blue Team

Merion Mercy’s Junior Varsity Blue team won one of their rounds at the Bar Tournament and lost the second in a very close match to one of the 2-0 teams. Clement remarked, “The other coaches and I are truly impressed with the Blue team’s commitment and competitive spirit. This is only the beginning for them!”

Blue Team 

Shayla Adams ‘26

Kaitlin Angelucci ‘25

Natalia Assetto ‘25

Jada Boose ‘24

Erin Burrows ‘26

Isabelle Duley ‘26

Nydia Kannah ‘26

Teresa Lynch ‘25

Gabrielle Pitucci ‘26

Angelina Qualtiere ‘26

Colette Remy ‘26

Samantha Ross ‘25

Emily Smith ‘26

Margaret Weidenborner ‘24