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The 2020 State High School Mock Trial Competition took place at the Richland County Central Court in the Decker Center with 10 teams competing for the state title, and Strom Thurmond High School of Edgefield County took home its eighth state championship title. The team was led by teacher coaches Dennis Jackson and Steve McKinney and attorney coaches Blair Massey and Senator Shane Massey.
Strom Thurmond High, well-known in the South Carolina high school mock trial community, placed fifth in the nation last year, but will not get the chance to compete at the National High School Mock Trial competition because of COVID-19.
“It is unfortunate that Strom Thurmond will not be representing South Carolina at the national competition this year since the national competition was canceled,” said Cynthia H. Cothran, director of the SC Bar’s Law Related Education Division. “We know that Strom Thurmond would have represented South Carolina beautifully like they did last year.”
Teacher coach Dennis Jackson shared her well wishes for the senior participants who won’t have the opportunity to compete at nationals.
“These young people of great intellect and character deserved the chance to represent our state and community. I hope they and their teammates are able to preserve fond memories of a state tournament that almost wasn't, and of fighting back to compete in the final round,” she said.
The Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics of Darlington County placed as the first runner-up , and the 2020 state finals marked the school’s first time to compete in the top two championship rounds. The team was led by teacher coach Gary Salazar and attorney coach Martin Driggers, Jr. Carolina Forest High School of Horry County, led by teacher coach Anthony Antolak and attorney coach Brad Smith, was awarded the Professionalism and Civility Award by their peers.
The LRE Division would like to thank all the volunteers, law students, attorney coaches, scoring judges, presiding judges, and regional coordinators who made the 2020 High School Mock Trial Regional and State Competitions such as success.