For the first time ever, Georgia will be represented in this year’s National High School Mock Trial Championship by a team of homeschooled students.

14 members of the Middle Georgia Christian Home School Association upset Fulton’s County’s Northview High school last month to take the state championship, despite the fact that preparing a homeschooled team for competition presents unique challenges.

Coach Richard Ricks said teams have to practice out of school — even though his students are never in school, in the traditional sense.

"There’s definitive rules about when you can practice," Ricks said. "It must be outside school hours, so we practice a couple of times a week in the evenings. Finding a facility in which to practice can be a challenge."

The team will be in Indianapolis May 8-12 to compete against other state champions from throughout the country. Ricks said he’s aware of at least two other teams in the nationals that are homeschooled.

Tags: homeschool, Adam Ragusea, mock trial team, Joshua Glasscock