The Mock Trial team’s competition season started the first week of December and ended in February when team members took home individual awards at the Penn State Regional Competition.
“The team did quite well at the regional competition,” Mock Trial team coach, Patricia Lowery, said. “The awards the team members brought home speak for themselves.”
Treasure and tournament director, Vivian Hawk, said the season starts when a case is released by the American Mock Trial Association. The case can be criminal or civil and includes legal documents like complaints and pre-trial motions, as well as the affidavits and reports of all witnesses.
The case chosen by the American Mock Trial Association is the same for each university’s mock trial teams.
The team consists of 17 members and is separated into two teams: Blue and Gold.
Hawk said the first scrimmage competition, in which both teams participated, was held at Lewis University in Chicago.
Out of the 20 individual awards available, three team members received five Outstanding Awards: Outstanding Witness by Peyton DeForce, Double Outstanding Witness by Rose Martyn and Double Outstanding Attorney by Vivian Hawk.
The second competition was hosted by the university at the end of January. The Gold team helped run the invitational and the Blue team competed.
A total of eight schools, some being out-of-state, attended the invitational, and the university won one award.
Hawk said both teams traveled to the regional end-of-the-year competition at the beginning of February and took home three individual awards: Witness by Peyton DeForce, Rose Martyn and Attorney by Taylor Pierce.
“On the way there, some of the team stopped in Punxsutawney, PA, to see Phil the groundhog,” Hawk said. “It was also Groundhog Day.”
The team starts recruitment and hosts tryouts from mid-August to the first week of September, Hawk said.
“No one gets cut from the program in tryouts,” Hawk said. “We just use the tryout as a means to place people on the different teams.”
Students take the roles of witnesses and attorneys in the case, Hawk said. From there, the team spends about a month reviewing and teaching the principles of mock trials and writing its materials.
“Mock Trial has helped me in more ways than one that I can apply to my life after graduating,” upcoming president of the team, Claire Sierota, said. “Not only does it help with public speaking skills, but thanks to the frequency of case changes, it also helps with thinking on your feet.”
The organization is open to any undergraduate student.
“You can have any major. We currently have majors from paralegal studies to teaching in ASL to biology on the team,” Hawk said. “I’d especially recommend anyone with an interest in learning to publicly speak or think on their feet in a fun and engaging way to join.”
There is a $50 membership fee per year that goes towards registration to receive the case materials for the year and travel fees, Hawk said.
“A great part about our program is that members do not have to pay out-of-pocket to travel to competitions,” Hawk said. “Mock trial is certainly a time commitment. We meet twice per week for two hours, but it will give you your best friends and skills that will be valuable for the rest of your life.”
Sierota said she is excited about next season. The case is supposed to be civil rather than criminal like last year.
“Sure, competing is fun and all, but this club is where I’ve made some of my closest friends,” Sierota said. “I love meeting all our new members and getting to know them at the beginning of the season. By the end of the season, we’re like a close-knit family.”
For more information on the team, follow their Instagram or email them.
Kaitlyn Sanders is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].
