It was a well argued case on both sides, but defending regional champions Cumberland Valley High School from Mechanicsburg prevailed over McCaskey in a close and well fought contest.
McCaskey was given the role of the prosecution in the finals, a task that many consider harder than the defense in the fictional murder case, given the lack of corpse and presence of an alternative suspect. The team had worked arduously over the past two weeks and had significantly improved the prosecution’s case, but this time they were up against their most formidable opponent. Cumberland Valley showed no visible lapses.
One can only speculate what the outcome would have been had the luck of the draw gone the other way.
There were tears, hugs and general disappointment upon hearing the jury’s decision. But for many members of the McCaskey team, there is next year. They had won eight out of nine contests.
As for the seniors, it’s time to catch up with their assignments and for some to join spring athletic teams. Their only remaining high school anxiety is whether they will be receiving approvals in April from the colleges of their first choice.
The teenagers saw themselves this day as winners or losers. The audience recognized them all as the leaders of the future.
