"At the very last 4 seconds, I rule in favor of the Defense," announced the Honorable Judge Ruben Villalobos during the final round of the 2024-2025 Stanislaus County Office of Education’s Mock Trial competition. The victorious defense team? Gregori High School. In a thrilling battle against the reigning champion Modesto High School, Gregori emerged as the victor in the intense People vs. Gold trial. While the final verdict didn’t decide the Mock Trial champion, the powerful closing argument they delivered certainly gave them a crucial advantage.
For 40 years, Modesto City Schools has competed in the annual Stanislaus County Office of Education’s (SCOE) Mock Trial competition, dominating the event alongside other districts in the region. With 39 wins, MCS has largely reigned supreme, with the only exception being Turlock High School’s victory in 2021. This legacy is something new Gregori Mock Trial Coach Kristen Taylor aims to carry forward. This year marked Taylor’s first championship win since stepping into the role. She was hand-picked by her predecessor, Daniel Moreno, who had led the team for 17 years, and just received SCOE’s 2024-2025 Coach Hall of Fame Award.
“The thing that kept me coming back is when students realize the power of working with their team,” Moreno said. It is a sentiment he is confident Taylor will experience as well.
When Moreno reached out to ask if Taylor would step in, she didn’t hesitate.
“Without hesitation, I said yes,” Taylor recalls. Her journey with Mock Trial began 30 years ago when she auditioned for the Johansen High School team and landed the role of Detective. From there, she became "guilty of catching the Mock Trial bug," continuing to compete throughout her high school years. After returning to Modesto following college, Taylor spent another eight years helping the Johansen team under Coach Ann Amador’s leadership.
After a break to focus more exclusively on teaching, Taylor has returned to the Mock Trial coaching world, ready to guide the next generation of stars.
As a teacher in the Turnaround Opportunity Program (TOPS), Taylor sees a unique parallel between her students and her Mock Trial team. “In many ways, my TOPS students and Mock Trial students are not so different,” she explains. “Both are striving to improve their lives, further their education, and reach their next goal.”
For her TOPS students, who may require specialized attention and teaching, the goal is often to get back on track toward graduation and build a brighter future. Whether it's helping her students earn a diploma or gain acceptance to prestigious colleges, Taylor is dedicated to shaping their futures. One of the most valuable lessons Taylor emphasizes is the importance of adaptability. In the Mock Trial courtroom, students often face the unexpected—from surprise rulings to unanticipated moves by the opposition. Taylor is amazed at how her students can think on their feet and rise to the challenge. “I’m amazed that 14, 15, and 16-year-olds can go off script and still shine,” she says. “That ability to adapt is a skill many adults struggle with.”
What Taylor finds most rewarding is watching her students navigate these challenges on their own. “Sitting in the audience, knowing I can’t coach them through it, I watch as they figure it out—not because they’ve memorized the material, but because they’ve truly learned the process. That’s when I’m most proud. That’s when I see real growth.” With Taylor’s dedicated work, Gregori is on a path to keep shining as they head to the state courtroom later this year.