Pacific Collegiate School has won the 2026 Santa Cruz County Mock Trial, the Santa Cruz County Office of Education recently announced. Santa Cruz High School competed against PCS in a dramatic finals event on Feb. 24, finishing as runner-up.
Micaela Garcia and Camila Suarez from St. Francis High School received the Paul Marigonda Award for the initiative they demonstrated in forming a team this year that performed admirably and finished 4th in the competition.
The PCS team, which also won the county competition in 2025, is now eligible to compete at the 2026 California Mock Trial Finals taking place March 20-22 in Oakland. Santa Cruz County won a wild card this year, meaning that if there are an odd number of teams competing at the state level, the county’s runner-up team may also advance.
Teams from eight Santa Cruz County high schools competed in the 2026 Mock Trial, with 14 judges and 49 attorneys volunteering their time in support.
“Congratulations to Pacific Collegiate and to all of the exceptional teams of students who competed in the Mock Trial courtroom this year,” said Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Faris Sabbah. “Mock Trial builds confidence, sharpens public speaking, and provides students with a better understanding of our justice system. I also want to recognize the judges, attorneys, coaches, and volunteers whose guidance and service make this program possible.”
The Santa Cruz County Mock Trial is a program of the Santa Cruz COE, provided in partnership with Teach Democracy, Santa Cruz Superior Court, the Santa Cruz Trial Lawyers Association, and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.
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Thousands of students across California participate in Mock Trial each year. Through performance-based education these students further their knowledge of our judicial system, history, content and conduct of our legal system, analytical abilities, communication skills, and team cooperation.
Mock Trial teams receive guidance in courtroom procedures and trial preparation from volunteer attorney coaches.
2026 SANTA CRUZ COUNTY MOCK TRIAL RESULTS
TEAM AWARDS
Mock Trial Winner
Pacific Collegiate School
Runner-Up
Santa Cruz High School
Team Spirit
Aptos High School
Team Sportsmanship
Aptos High School
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Paul Marigonda Award: Micaela Garcia & Camila Suarez, St. Francis High School
Pretrial Prosecution Attorney: Jesus Heredia-Collazo, Watsonville High School
Pretrial Defense Attorney: Dani Mattson, Pacific Collegiate School
Prosecution Attorney: Ike Segnitz, Pacific Collegiate School
Defense Attorney: Arthur Gooden, St. Francis High School
Prosecution Witnesses: Rio Sacks: Yahaira Luna, Harbor High School • Alden Mitchell: Kazel Oatey, Harbor High School • Sam Longo: Ila Bonney, Soquel High School • Imari Rodriguez: Samson Ermini, Santa Cruz High School
Defense Witnesses: Dr. Ren Dunne: Gabriel Saurez, St. Francis High School • Haley Fromholz: Kate Doherty, Scotts Valley High School • Jean Kronstadt: Dylan Moore, Scotts Valley High School • Takoda Morrison: Vicente Walsh, Scotts Valley High School
Clerk: Ian Malachowski, Santa Cruz High School
Bailiff: Connor McGuire, St. Francis High School
Courtroom Artist: Lia Carlos, Santa Cruz High School
Journalist: Sarah Cobos, Soquel High School