After months of preparation inside the Polk County Courthouse in Florida, the Lakeland Christian School mock trial team walked into another Polk County courthouse more than 1,300 miles away and emerged as national champions.
Competing inside the Polk County Courthouse May 7–9 in Des Moines, Iowa, Lakeland Christian School defeated Georgia’s Northview High School in the final round to win the 2026 National High School Mock Trial Championship, securing the title against the top student teams in the country. Northview is from John’s Creek, Georgia, about 20 miles northeast of Atlanta.
The victory marks Florida’s first national high school mock trial championship since 1992, when Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School won the national title.
Senior Zack Branham was recognized with a Top Attorney award for his courtroom performance during the national competition.
In addition to Branham, team members included seniors Griffin Byrd, Brody Denton and Maddie Powers; juniors Luke Cardosi and Resee Collins; and sophomores Dallas Denton, Anna Morin and Audrey Volheim.
Lakeland Christian started the mock trial program in 2014 as part of the Center for Law and Public Policy in the school’s RISE Institute.
“This team demonstrated extraordinary discipline, professionalism, and composure throughout the competition,” coach Chasity Branham said in a news release. “To prepare in Polk County, Florida, and then win a national championship in Polk County, Iowa, is a story none of us will forget.”
The National High School Mock Trial Championship brings together state champion teams from across the country for multiple rounds of courtroom competition, where students are evaluated by attorneys and judges on legal reasoning, witness performance, advocacy and case presentation.
In the championship round against Northview, Susan Christensen, the chief justice of Iowa, presided over the case.
The team earned the right to represent Florida after winning the Florida High School Mock Trial Competition in March.
The school said team members received help from the 10th Circuit legal community, including Circuit Judge Melissa Gravitt and a number of attorneys, who assisted in scrimmaging the students during preparation.
“This accomplishment reflects countless hours of preparation and an incredible commitment from these students, coaches, families, and supporters,” Head of School Bryant Black said. “They represented Lakeland, Polk County, and the State of Florida with excellence.”
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland Christian mock trial team wins national championship
Reporting by Special to The Ledger / The Ledger
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