Crossways victorious Mock Trial Team state winners. From left they are: Sam Griffith, Anna VanVranken, Andrew Thorne, Bethany Harris, Coach Gary Griffith, Rhett Kirchhoff, Corinthea Harris, Michael DiAntonio, and Richard Carlucci, coach./Photo by Mike DiAntonio

NEW BRUNSWICK — A dedicated group of home learners, which draws from both Atlantic and Cape May Counties, took the state title in the Vincent J. Apruzzese Mock Trial Competition sponsored by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation April 3.

Crossway Home Learners of Atlantic County won the state title last week in the final round of the state championship against Livingston High School, Essex County, at the New Jersey Law Center here.

The students took on the defense of a mother accused of killing her son by injecting him with EPO, or erythropoietin, as a performance enhancer.

The defense team was comprised of Sam Griffith, 16, of Ocean City, and Anna VanVranken, 16, of Mays Landing.

Michael DiAntonio of Wildwood Crest, was a prosecutor who played a key role in helping win the case and the state title, according to his father, Michael DiAntonio.

The home school group draws students from Cape May and Atlantic County, and includes: Corinthea
Harris, 16, of Ocean City, Andrew Thorne, 16, of Linwood, Bethany Harris, 17, of Ocean City, Mike DiAntonio of Wildwood Crest, and Rhett Kirchhoff of Upper Township.

Gary Griffith, Sam’s father, served as one of the lawyer coaches for the team.

“I thought the team played an excellent match, and that they deserved to win. They were the best team in the competition,” he said.

Griffith said the group is close-knit. Asked what they did to celebrate their victory, he said, they spend loads of time together.

“This team has devoured all nature of snacks and pizza,” he said, laughing.

He’s come to think of his protégés like his own children.

“I have four children, and now it’s like I have another six kids on top of it. I was very proud and happy for
them,” he said.

The team now will travel to a competition in Charlotte, N.C. May 18-20 to compete on a national level at the American Mock Trial Invitational Competition.