With competition set for this Saturday, March 7, at the Macomb County Courthouse, De La Salle’s Mock Trial team is entering the final stretch of preparation — and this year’s case is no small undertaking.

The 2026 case centers on alleged construction failures: a building that required a retrofit after completion, with claims of faulty design and corner-cutting leading to significant damage. While fictional, the case is anything but simple.

“It’s very detailed,” said David Femminineo, ‘90, one of three lawyers who are coaching the team. “There are about 80 pages of serious material to work through. It’s a lot of work.”

The three coaches - Femminineo, Keith Jablonski, ‘92, and Bart Kmiec - are veteran coaches and also have sons on the team. 

A Young Team, New Leadership Roles

This year’s roster includes a mix of 5 returning students and 12 newcomers. 

“All of our lawyers this year have never been a lawyer before,” Femminineo said. “This year, it’s going to be very interesting.”

Among the highlights: a freshman stepping into an attorney role.

“Carlo Donello is really into it,” Femminineo added. “It’s going to be exciting.”

The six student attorneys are divided among the three coaches, each mentoring two lawyers and their corresponding witnesses. Practices have been intensive and flexible: Zoom meetings, in-person rehearsals, and even three-hour Sunday sessions as the competition approaches.

“We break it down by coach, and then we come together to finalize,” Femminineo explained.

Building Toward States

The district field is full, with as many as 18 schools competing. The team hopes to build on last year’s success, when they advanced to the state finals.

“We’re hopeful we can make it to state finals again this year,” he said.

Preparation began shortly after case materials were released between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Since then, students have immersed themselves in the facts, crafted direct and cross examinations, and refined courtroom presence.

A visit to an actual courtroom gives students a feel for the space before competition day.

“We want them to get a live sense of how it’s going to feel when we’re there,” Femminineo said.

Junior Mikos Rosati Reflects on Growth, Teamwork, and Mock Trial

For junior Mikos Rosati, Mock Trial has become more than just an extracurricular — it’s a place to test-drive a potential future and build lasting friendships along the way.

“This is my second year,” Mikos said. “I joined because I kind of wanted to discover if I wanted to go into law. My sister was already in it, and she said it was really fun.”

His sister, now a college freshman planning to pursue law, helped spark that initial interest. While Mikos remains undecided about his own future career path, Mock Trial has given him a valuable glimpse into the legal world.

“So far, I’ve learned all about my character,” he explained. “And through Mock Trial, I’ve learned how court procedures work — pretty much how everything operates in a courtroom.”

This year, Mikos  is taking on the role of a witness. With competition less than a week away, he knows preparation is everything.

“We’re going to do as good as we practice,” he said. “If we keep practicing hard, we should hopefully make states again.”

Last year’s trip to the state competition left a lasting impression.

“Making states was a really fun experience,” Mikos said. “Staying in a hotel with all our friends, watching March Madness, being in downtown East Lansing — it was amazing.”

With only five returning members and twelve newcomers, this year’s team is young. Rosati sees both the challenge and the opportunity in that reality.

“Having only five returners makes it tough because only five know how everything works,” he said. “But it’s a really young team, so it’ll be good for next year, especially if most of the kids return and know how everything works. For this year, everybody’s just got to keep working hard.”

Mikos encourages other students to consider joining — especially those willing to commit to a team atmosphere.

“If they want to pursue law or learn more about law, they should join,” he said. “But you’ve got to be committed.”

Why Mock Trial  Matters

“Participating in Mock Trial gives the kids a real sense of what it feels like to go to court,” Femminineo said. “They figure out pretty quickly whether they like that rush or not.”

For some students, the experience clarifies a future path.

“We’ve had kids say, ‘Now I want to go to law school,’ and others say, ‘Now I don’t.’ And that’s valuable either way.”

As an alumnus and practicing attorney, he understands the importance of exposure.

“I wish I had this growing up,” he reflected. “It would’ve been helpful to know what court really felt like instead of it being a surprise the first time.”

For now, the team is focused on preparation — sharpening arguments, anticipating objections, and building confidence. Soon enough, they’ll stand in a real courtroom, presenting their case before judges and competing schools.

And whether they advance or not, the experience itself is the real verdict.