It was a David vs. Goliath matchup - and the little guys from the Bronx won.
The Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice triumphed at the state mock trial championship yesterday, beating a wealthy Westchester County school that's a perennial powerhouse in the tournament.
"I don't think anybody expected us to even be finalists. We're kind of the new kids on the block," said Ashanti Pratt, 16. "I think we shocked a lot of people.
"
The Bronx kids upset Blind Brook High School of Rye Brook, which has made the state semifinals for the past three years.
Bronx Law's students have overcome adversity all year: One teen was nearly homeless and two others had to baby-sit younger siblings during Saturday practice while their parents worked.
Yesterday was no different.
Nasais Veloz, 16, began losing her voice, so Ashanti had to give Nasais' closing argument in front of Judge Robert Smith inside Federal Court in Albany.
The well-deserved victory even took team members by surprise."It's been a hard year," said Lise Dunning, 16.
"Through it all, we've picked ourselves up, come here and we beat the best."
The team's members congratulated their opponents and deliberately didn't celebrate until they'd left the courthouse, on their walk to the Capitol to visit Gov. Spitzer.
"To be teenagers and to be that gracious in the midst of the biggest victory of their lives, I just thought it was incredible," said Adrienne Gonzalez of the Kaye Scholer law firm, who coached the kids.
The championship was particularly emotional for Marquis Robertson, 17, who was kicked out of a relative's house the day before the city finals. "We're all family," he said.
"No matter what happens with me, I know that they have my back, so I know it will be okay.
News RSS