BLAIR COUNTY, Pa. -- "Law and Order" comes to Blair County as the Central High School mock trial team won the state competition.

"We just sat and squeezed each others hands," said Leah Stiles, a senior on the Central High School mock trial team. "We looked strait ahead when they told us we won. When the cameras were turned off we screamed and caused a big scene."

Stiles remembers the excitement of winning the state mock trial competition. The team of nine students took on some of the best teams in the commonwealth and came out on top.

"I knew we had the potential, but I honestly didn't think we could make it this far," said Eli Hershberger who plays a witness on the team.

Recently the group left for Atlanta, Georgia to compete in nationals.

In a mock trial competition the students argue a fictional case, acting out all the parts. The jury is usually made of up lawyers and they give their verdict.

"Most of the high school kids that are drawn to this like to argue," said team coach Brad Heuston. "They like to be active and involved."

However, mock trial isn't just for the future lawyers of the world. Students said for them, it's a chance to improve their public speaking and self esteem. Those skills will carry them far, no matter which career they chose.

"All of us carry ourselves more confidently and more fluidly now than we did before," said Stiles.

Even though Central High School has taken on much bigger schools in competition, it hasn't intimidated the group of up and comers.

"I think the biggest win was when we went to Bedford," said Heuston. "We were in the regional finals against Greensburg. We beat Greensburg! At that point we realized that we may actually win states."

Students said they couldn't have come this far without a lot of support.

"For us being such a small school, we have our community behind us," said senior team member Abby Kreider. "It gives the community pride too."

"It's one thing to compete," said Heuston. "It's another to win, and we showed we can win."

The Central High School mock trial team came in 10th in the national competition out of 42 teams. It's only the third time that a Pennsylvania team has finished in the top ten.