Tottenville High School Mock Trial Association

Empire City Invitational Returns for a Second Year
The addition of the CheongShim International Academy from
South Korea turns the Empire into international spectacle

3.19.08 - The Empire City Invitational will return for a second year, announced Justin Matarrese, coach of the Tottenville High School Mock Trial Team. The invitational will be held on October 10-12, 2008 at the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York. The tournament plans to host between 28-32 teams, including two squads from South Korea. Mr. Matarrese confirmed that the CheongShim International Academy has agreed to compete in the tournament, making the Empire the first international mock trial invitational in the history of New York State. For more information about the tournament, please visit the invitational section of the website.

Pirates Take First Two, Ranked 1st in City
Tottenville defeats two of New York City's finest

Team poses for a photo after its Round 2 victory.

3.6.08 - He was nervous. He was anxious. He was tense. Tottenville High School Coach Justin Matarrese had every right to be. His team had the luck of drawing two of New York City's top mock trial programs in the first rounds of competition: Sheepshead Bay and St. Joseph Hill. "We have played these programs multiple times in the last few years, but in the late rounds," commented Matarrese, "they are always great and they always come prepared". Yet despite the incredible competition, the Pirates picked up their first two victories of the year, hoping to erase the painful loss that was still fresh in their memories. "It was really tough what happened to us last year," said team captain and senior Michlle Cuozzo, "we weren't sharp and faced a great team... we don't want to let that happen again".

The Inaugural Empire - An Incredible Success
Tottenville students get their first taste of
national competition

6.18.07 - Twelve teams. Seven states. One weekend. The inaugural Empire City Invitational was an incredible experience for all of the students that attended. The three day, four round tournament was held at the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York and culminated in a championship round, held on Sunday, June 17th. The round featured the two top teams at the tournament: Bishop Lynch High School from Dallas, Texas and Cibola High School from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Presiding over the case was Daniel Bookin, a partner at the San Francisco branch of O'Melveny & Meyers LLP, whose daughter helps coach the Tottenville Team. Read more.

THS Mock Trial Team after Round 4 at the Empire City Invitational.

The prosecution half of the THSMock Trial Team poses for a photo in the lobby of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York.

Devastating Loss Ends Pirates' Season
Despite an incredible effort by Dubov,
Pirates are left wondering what went wrong

4.26.07 - Over the last three years, they have compiled an astonishing record of 20-2 in route to three consecutive championship appearances. In 2004, they captured their first city title. Their rise from obscurity to dominance has been nothing short of spectacular. However, for the first time since the 2003 season, there will be a New York City Championship round without Tottenville High School. After a devastating loss at the hands of the Bronx High School of Science, the Pirates were left wondering what could have been. One point separated Tottenville from advancing to the final four. Read more.

Two Down, Five to Go
Pirates pick up first two victories of the season

3.11.07 - The Tottenville High School Mock Trial Team opened up the 2007 season by picking up back-to-back victories against the School of Heroes and Shulamith Yeshiva. Round 1 featured a stellar performance by all six members of the prosecution. Alivia Ashenfarb, freshman,
and Bradley Simon, junior, were sensational in their mock trial debuts. Read more.

A jovial photo of the THS Mock Trial Team after their Round 2 victory.

New York City will be the host of the first ever high school mock trial invitational tournament in the history of New York State.

The Empire City Invitational is Now Online
Tottenville High School hosts first ever invitational tournament

3.8.07 - With the desire to give their students the chance to compete against some of the top talent in America, coupled with the opportunity to give non-New Yorkers the chance to experience life in the Empire City, the Tottenville High School Mock Trial Association has decided to host the first ever high school mock trial invitational tournament in the history of New York State. Teams will be traveling from throughout the country to take part in this historic event. Preliminary information for the tournament is now available online at:

the Empire City Invitational