Mater Lakes Academy Middle School Mock Trial Team competes in state contest

Education By Linda Trischitta, Editor Thursday, June 4, 2026

     Mater Lakes Academy’s Middle School Mock Trial Team earned a 3rd Place overall finish at the Middle School Mock Trial State Final Competition May 2 - 3 at the Hillsborough County Courthouse. The journey to that finish included competing in a field against 120 schools and then against seven top programs at the state finals, Mater Academy said.

      The Florida Southern College Justice Teaching Center for Civic Learning sponsored the competition. 

      The team won the Professionalism Award and members Abigail Fajardo won a Top Attorney Award; Emily Gonzalez earned a Top Witness Award and Brianna Borges was named Best Attorney in the State of Florida, the school said. 

     Another accomplishment this year was being the No. 1 ranked Mock Trial Team in the county, the school said.