Earlier this month, the St. Joseph High School Mock Trial won five awards and three of four matches at the district competition in Portsmouth.

The only team from Lawrence County competing in that event, they advanced to the regional competition, where they came in third.

The other schools in the event were larger and had teams comprised entirely of seniors, while St. Joe’s was made up of one senior, one junior, five sophomores and three freshmen and held their own.

Many students on the team, advised by Ironton attorneys Mark McCown and Brian Cremeans, have expressed an interest in the legal field and the event gave them an opportunity to get a feel for their chosen profession.

It also helped them to build confidence and public speaking skills.

And, with the wins, the students demonstrated that their preparation served them well.

We congratulate the group on their success and commend all who helped them take part in this event.