East Islip Mock Trial Team Is on Fire, Edging Out Rival Northport To Clinch Regional Win
4.10.2025
The East Islip High School’s Mock Trial team is on fire, as their team logo shows, after beating rival Northport High School to take the crown in Region VIII. The statewide Mock Trial program and tournament is sponsored by the New York State Bar Association and funded in part by a grant from The New York Bar Foundation. It brings thousands of high school students together each year to learn about the law, practice public speaking and develop life skills. The state tournament with eight regional teams takes place in Albany each May.
In a recent interview, East Islip team members say besting their cross-county rival Northport High School was especially sweet after that team beat them in the playoff round three years ago.
“We were all very motivated,” said co-captain Olivia Stepanenko.“When they announced our team as the winner, there were emotions everywhere, we were crying happy tears.”
Over the course of a long season of late nights and loads of coffee cake, the team came up with the nickname of the “Eager Beavers.” Co-captain Delaney Demasi gives a lot of credit for the team’s success to the hard work of the newest team members.
“We got blessed with great freshmen, great witnesses. We took it round by round, and we just kept practicing, kept memorizing things and being motivated to win,” she said. “We deserve it because we’ve just worked so hard and put in so much effort. And we’ve gotten so many new members that has made the season even better.”
Club officer Michael Collina credits the team’s faculty adviser for creating a close-knit family atmosphere.
“This wouldn’t be a family if it wasn’t for Mrs. Lester,” he said. “She really brings us all together, she’s like our second mom.”
Lester, who teaches social studies and debate at East Islip, says her work with the Mock Trial program brings her such joy.
“This has been the most important part of my career, working with the students, teaching them that they can be more than they thought they could be,” she said. “Learning these incredible skills and gaining self-confidence is what I love to see in the students.
