Bemidji High School Mock Trial Team Narrowly Defeated in Region 2 Championship

Defending champions fall short in close match against Alexandria at Stearns County Courthouse

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Bemidji High School's Mock Trial team saw its season come to an end after a narrow defeat against Alexandria in the Region 2 Championship held at the Stearns County Courthouse. The final scoring was extremely close, with one judge separating the two teams by just five points, underscoring the high level of talent displayed by both sides.

Why it matters

Bemidji High School had been the defending back-to-back Region 2 champions, having won the tournament in 2024 and 2025. The team was hoping to secure its third consecutive trip to the state tournament, but came up just short against a tough Alexandria squad.

The details

Despite the close loss, the BHS Mock Trial team's performance reflected their dedication, preparation and tradition of excellence. Team member Nina Bergey earned the only perfect score of "10" awarded by any judge during the championship round for her cross-examination, and was recognized as Outstanding Attorney. Teammate Brynn Klaers also received the Outstanding Witness award for her portrayal of defendant Jesse Gates.

  • The Region 2 Championship took place on Wednesday at the Stearns County Courthouse.
  • Bemidji High School had won the Region 2 tournament in 2024 and 2025.

The players

Nina Bergey

A member of the Bemidji High School Mock Trial team who earned the only perfect score of "10" awarded by any judge during the championship round for her cross-examination, and was recognized as Outstanding Attorney.

Brynn Klaers

A member of the Bemidji High School Mock Trial team who received the Outstanding Witness award for her portrayal of defendant Jesse Gates, earning high praise from judges.

Alexandria

The Mock Trial team from Alexandria that defeated Bemidji High School in the close Region 2 Championship match.

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The takeaway

This close defeat highlights the strength of both the Bemidji High School and Alexandria Mock Trial teams, and the high level of competition in the Region 2 tournament. Despite the loss, Bemidji's team demonstrated their continued excellence and tradition of success in this academic competition.