The team at the Saturday night dinner at Albany. This was just moments before it was announced
that Tottenville would be competing in the championship round for the second year in a row.

This remarkable run is unprecedented in the New York City competition. Head Coach Justin Matarrese, a graduate of the Tottenville team and New York University, attributes the program’s consistency to the support of parents, alumni, and the NYU Mock Trial team: “Every year students that graduate generously volunteer their time to come back and help support the team. At this year’s New York City finale, we had over 10 alumni students and even alumni parents in attendance. It has become like a family.” The students know that it is impossible to overlook the importance of the NYU Mock Trial Team, “They work so closely with us. They volunteer to practice and scrimmage us all the time,” said junior Nicole DeLaRue, “without them, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

This year’s case was a complex defamation claim. The plaintiff (Dr. Chris Cross) sued the defendant (Randy Porter) for writing an allegedly false article about him. Dr. Cross was the principal of Livingston-Schuyler High School and running for the vacant Assemblyman position at the time Randy Porter published his story. Porter claimed that Dr. Cross accepted a bribe from a student’s father in exchange for giving his son the valedictorian position. As a result of that article, the plaintiff alleges that he was forced to withdraw from the race for Canal City Assemblyman and his reputation was ruined. Throughout the course of the competition, the Tottenville team had to argue for both the plaintiff and the defendant—quite a difficult task!

Last year's Tottenville team suffered a heartbreaking loss in the championship round of last year’s state finals. From the onset of the 2008-2009 season, this team wanted revenge. Led by team captain and future Duke University student Joseph La Barbara, the team certainly got it. “I’m stunned,” said La Barbara, “We overcame countless obstacles and personnel changes. Especially after the disappointment of last year, this year’s win feels even more gratifying.” Senior Kelsey Knutsen was equally ecstatic, “There’s nothing in the world like sitting hand in hand at the counsel table and being announced as the champions. The team worked so hard and it’s amazing to come out number one”. La Barbara, Knutsen and Patel are seniors at Tottenville and served as the cornerstones of both city championship teams. This year, they were joined by juniors Nicole DeLaRue, Tom Bekhit, Joseph Guarini and Michael Tamborra.

“It was a homerun,” said faculty advisor Steve Saliski, “an undefeated season, a city and state championship, what more could we ask for?”

The team is coached by Justin Matarrese, his father Gregory P. Matarrese, Esq., teacher Steve Saliski, NYU students Sarah Bookin and D.J. Hommel, and Tottenville graduate Michelle Cuozzo. They are advised by the NYU Mock Trial Team. “This was six years in the making,” said Justin Matarrese, “I can’t believe we finally did it.”