They didn’t win a tournament all season…until the one that mattered most.
On March 14-15, the Normal West Mock Trial team traveled to Lincoln Land Community College to compete in the Illinois State Bar Association High School Mock Trial Invitation, facing off against 56 of the top teams in the state.
The competition spanned two intense rounds across two days, along with a written law test. For a team that hadn’t placed all season, expectations were uncertain.
“The whole season we had been up and down and really had not placed in tournaments,” coach John Bierbaum said.
The team battled all tournament and were thrilled to make it to the final round of competition on Sunday.
As the competition and atmosphere of the competition intensified, so did the conditions outside.
As severe storms rolled in and tornado warnings loomed, the team delivered what may have been their strongest performance of the season.
But then came the announcement: “Normal West, first place.”
They had done it. They had become the first-ever state champion in Normal West Mock Trial history.
“I was honestly at a loss for words,” junior Jordan Stovall said. “Considering we hadn’t won or placed at a tournament all year, this proved that we peaked at the perfect time in the season.”
For many on the team, the moment didn’t feel real.
“Winning state felt very surreal to say the least,” senior Raya Radoslavova said. “I rewatched the video of us winning for what felt like hours trying to relive the moment.”
Junior Kylie Pollett echoed that disbelief.
“I still remember hearing that we won and just jumping around and screaming – and so, so much crying – because we were so surprised,” she said.
Senior Olive Blick described the moment as unforgettable.
“Hearing the woman announce that we had won the state competition was euphoric,” she said. “The relief of knowing our dedication had paid off, and the team’s collective cries in celebration are things I never wish to forget.”
Blick was also recognized individually, earning Outstanding Attorney at the state competition.
The victory marked more than just a win.
It was a historic first.
This is the first time Normal West has ever won the state mock trial competition, and notably, the first state title in school history for a non-IHSA activity.
And what made the win even more meaningful was how it happened.
“In the preliminary round for my side, the plaintiff, we had the best trip we had had all season,” senior Katherine Masters said. “Everyone did their part and performed so well.”
After months of preparations and setbacks, everything finally clicked.
“There was no better team I could imagine being on,” Masters said. “Everyone worked so hard to get this win, and we all deserved it so much.”
But the celebration didn’t last long.
As soon as spring break began, the team shifted its focus forward and not backward.
“When spring break hit, we met for hours going over the new rules of the national tournament, working on federal trial procedures, and other aspects so that when our new case drops, we are ready for it,” Bierbaum said.
That “new case” is exactly what makes nationals a completely different challenge.
Unlike the state competition, teams receive an entirely new case on April 1, forcing them to rebuild from the ground up in just over a month.
“We get an entirely new case,” Bierbaum said. “So we have a very rigorous practice schedule.”
To prepare, the team plans to scrimmage top programs from across the country, including teams from Iowa, Missouri, and Michigan, along with virtual matchups against Wisconsin and Mississippi.
Once they arrive in Des Moines for nationals in early May, they’ll face even tougher competition — including scrimmages against teams from Texas and California, the latter ranked 5th in the nation.
“It is going to be a lot of work to succeed at nationals,” Masters said. “But I know that with some work, we can do well.”
Despite the pressure, the team is embracing the opportunity.
“I’m terrified but so excited to go to nationals,” Pollett said. “It’s so weird to think about but I’m really excited to be able to represent West and Illinois.”
Others share that mix of nerves and excitement.
“Going into nationals I am obviously nervous and I feel like we are in over our heads,” Radoslavova explained. “However, I’m more excited than anything else, and I mean that.”
For most of the team consisting of seniors nearing the end of their high school careers, the moment feels bigger than just competition.
“It’s even crazier that this is most of our team’s senior year,” Radoslavova adds. “Everything feels weirdly serendipitous.”
From an unpredictable regular season to a state title no one expected, Normal West Mock Trial is heading into nationals with momentum, determination, and belief.
“It has been a really wonderful whirlwind,” Bierbaum said. “But we are focused on doing all of the prep to represent the state of Illinois at nationals.”
